Media centre

Monday 28 Nov 2005

KEEPING THRIVING LONDON ON THE MOVE – CONSULTATION BEGINS ON LONDON’S ORBITAL ROUTES

Region & Route:

National

Network Rail today unveiled 16 options for meeting the demands of the increasing numbers of people using London’s orbital routes. The number of Londoners is set to increase by almost one million people over the next ten years, more than 600,000 new jobs are expected – many of which will be in the City and the East of London.  As a result, the numbers travelling on the orbital rail routes round London are predicted to grow by between 20% and 30% in the same period. Network Rail’s Cross London Route Strategy presents, for consultation, 16 options that could accommodate more passengers on the routes around London (the North London Line, the West London Line, the East London Line and the South London Line), and allow more freight traffic to pass through the North of London on its route from the East Coast ports to the West Coast rail lines. The consultation identifies the present day pinch points and invites stakeholders to consider a variety of potential solutions, which include:

• Additional trains in the peak hours between Stratford and Camden Road
• Increasing services on the North London Line, doubling services on the Gospel Oak to Barking route and on the West London Line
• Diverting the London Bridge to Victoria service to Clapham Junction

  Further rigorous analysis and appraisal will be done on the options to ensure that only those passing strict value for money tests are included in the final strategy. Network Rail’s Chief Executive, John Armitt, said: “This consultation looks at the challenges facing the rail industry in meeting growing passenger and freight demand on the orbital routes around London.  It presents a series of ambitious, but realistic options for meeting this challenge and allowing up to 30% passenger growth over the next ten years. “It affords us a unique opportunity to draw on all the major transport plans for London and take account of significant future events, like the Olympics in 2012.  “We look forward to hearing the views of a wide range of interested parties, including local authorities and regional development agencies.” Network Rail and its key transport partners in London (including Transport for London, the Department for Transport, and the train and freight operating companies) have been working for eight months to develop this draft route strategy.  The industry and numerous stakeholders have identified a series of potential solutions and expansion plans for the route. The expert team has researched and analysed each, and has discarded many.  This resultant draft route strategy presents a series of options, which the industry believes could deliver the greatest benefit. The consultation on these options will last until 24 February 2006. Once completed, a final version of the route strategy will be submitted to the Office of Rail Regulation and the Department for Transport. Some of the options could be taken forward by the rail industry, together with Transport for London, while others may need the input of other interested parties’ (such as a Regional Development Agency or the Department for Transport) before they could proceed. The Cross London Route Strategy is the second such strategy led by Network Rail; the South West Main Line Route Strategy was launched last month.