New rail investment

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  • Anonymous
    Guest

    transtraxman
    Participant

    It 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”

    http://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/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”

    http://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/network-rail-multi-million-pound-european-funding-for-improvements/

    Good news.


    VintageKrug
    Participant

    What 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.


    Bucksnet
    Participant

    VK, 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.


    Shearer
    Participant

    Train passenger numbers are increasing by 6% a year, 1.4bn journeys in the 12 months to March 2012.

    They might not go where VK wants to go, but they are doing something right.


    Bucksnet
    Participant

    VK does not even think that passengers from LHR should get the train in London!


    LeTigre
    Participant

    If the government listened to dear VK’s advice, we would spend all day in our blessed Priuses stuck in traffic.

    Clever indeed!


    transtraxman
    Participant

    I 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.


    AMcWhirter
    Participant

    In 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/main-line/frances-loss-making-inter-city-services-at-a-crossroads.html

    http://www.railjournal.com/index.php/high-speed/france-faces-tough-choices-over-future-of-tgv.html


    transtraxman
    Participant

    Even 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.


    transtraxman
    Participant

    Let 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.

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