New rail investment
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at 18:50 by transtraxman.
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transtraxmanParticipantIt is indeed welcome to read that the government has approved the extension of previously announced rail investment. Passengers, freight, operators,taxpayers, trackside residents and the environment will all benefit in the long run.
Though part of the headline figure has already been committed any new investment is readily received.http://www.dft.gov.uk/news/statements/greening-20120716a
http://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/uk-government-announces-rail-funding-boost/
It is also to be noted that the much maligned European Union is financing part of this. Though the quantities are never enough every bit helps.
“Network Rail: Multi million pound European funding for improvements”It should also be mentioned that the government has approved a rail link from Reading to Heathrow.
“£500m Government funding pledged for Heathrow Rail Link”Good news.
16 Jul 2012
at 19:56
VintageKrugParticipantWhat a ridiculous waste of money.
Trains have a place, but are largely overpriced, uncomfortable and don’t go where you need to.
Suggest the tarmac the rails and give everyone a Prius. It would be less expensive.
Hopefully at least they will scrap HS2 as a consequence of this.
It is, nonetheless, good to see proper infrastructure investment from this government, after the procrastination of previous administrations.
16 Jul 2012
at 20:15
BucksnetParticipantVK, electrifying our rail network is a good use of money and should of been done years ago.
I thought you were in favour of HS2, but as it will not link to your wet dream of an airport then I suppose it’s of less use. Plus the money saved can be used as a subsidy for Thames Hub, because let’s face it, it’s gonna need it.
Dave and Nick only announced this today because they are trying to ‘relaunch’ the coalition after the lords vote. They could of just got on with the investment after they were elected, but they save these big spending announcements for photo ops, this time at the train factory that did not get the Thameslink order.
The Labour government before them could of spent a lot more on infrastructure. The GWML electrification ‘only’ needs £5 billion, and yet they spent more than that EVERY MONTH on benefits for immigrants.
16 Jul 2012
at 21:36
transtraxmanParticipantI noticed this on Global Rail News dated 5-2-16.
“Route confirmed for Montpellier-Perpignan LGV”.http://www.globalrailnews.com/2016/02/05/route-confirmed-for-montpellier-perpignan-lgv/
This would replace the winding coastal rail route thus upping line speeds in this gap on the TGV route from Barcelona to Geneva and Paris.
Take note that…
(a) the line is designed for passengers and freight.
(b) the 200 kilometre route has 2 intermediate stops at Béziers and Narbonne. (the equivalent in the UK is from Euston to Stafford or from Kings Cross to Chesterfield).This means that the French (who already have quite a bit of experience in TGVs) are not obsessed with speed but with serving the public by going where the paying customers are.
Britain´s HS2 could learn a lot from this. Perhaps the politicians might realise that the trains have to go where the money paying passengers are and want to go – and not directed at just a few passengers who go to some big cities spaced further apart.9 Feb 2016
at 10:25
AMcWhirterParticipantIn truth, away from its prestigious TGV services SNCF’s regional trains face an uncertain future. At least in the UK there are no plans to close any rail lines and indeed services (and a few rail lines) are being expanded to cope with passenger demand.
And not everything is going smoothly for the TGVs either.
http://www.railjournal.com/index.php/high-speed/france-faces-tough-choices-over-future-of-tgv.html
9 Feb 2016
at 13:27
transtraxmanParticipantEven the French realised that they have mucked everything up. In the second article mentioned by Alex there are these quotes………
“the aberrant positioning of TGV stations with no connection to local transport, which is imposed by local officials more concerned about prestige than the interest of travellers.”
“Closer integration of high-speed rail with other transport modes is a necessity that hasn’t always been given the consideration it deserves.” ……….
“Elsewhere, connections between TGV, regional rail services and other modes are often poor, in some instances because of the remote locations chosen for new high-speed stations.”These are the sort of mistakes HS2 wants to make.
9 Feb 2016
at 18:42
transtraxmanParticipantLet us not forget either, that SNCF has had to set up a rail Low Cost Carrier (LCC) to attempt to maximise use of the lines. This is OUIGO, which is a different brand and has different destination stations near Paris, Disneyland and Roissy CDG.
http://special-offers.en.voyages-sncf.com/en/ouigo-low-cost-train
Lessons to be learnt.
9 Feb 2016
at 18:50 -
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