Monday 1 Oct 2012
NEW IDEAS FOR VALUE FOR MONEY RAIL GROWTH
- Region & Route:
- National
Network Rail today publishes ‘Alternative solutions, draft network route utilisation study for consultation’. The document is the result of a wide consultation with industry stakeholders and looks at future, cost-effective options for growth.
The study examines three main areas for development – further use of tram trains, innovative ideas for electrification and further expansion of community rail initiatives.
Paul Plummer, Network Rail’s group strategy director said: “To maintain the mandate to further invest in our railway the industry has to demonstrate a clear commitment to greater efficiency and cost effectiveness. This means being open to alternative solutions and we hope that this new study will prompt fresh thinking and debate.”
The study’s emerging conclusions suggest that the circumstances for tram train conversion of heavy rail infrastructure or services can be found in those cities with existing tramways. In particular, the RUS considers that the circumstances may exist in Greater Manchester, the West Midlands, South Yorkshire and Nottingham.
On electrification, the study looks at battery powered trains, with the analysis presented as a guide to suppliers of the potential size of the market and the rail industry’s capability requirements. The cost savings of allowing electrically powered train services ‘coasting’ through extended neutral sections are considered. This innovative approach is planned for the Paisley Canal electrification scheme in order to achieve savings by reducing the need to alter the height of the bridges on the line.
As for community rail partnerships, the study’s draft conclusions state the positive impact of current partnerships and that the rail industry and funders would like more of them, but they cannot be imposed.
The consultation period is for 60 days and finishes on the 28 November, the document and details of how to respond to the consultation can be found on Network Rail’s website – http://www.networkrail.co.uk/aspx/4449.aspx.
Notes to editors
The Network Route Utilisation Strategy (RUS) is part of the Network Rail’s Long Term Planning Process, and considers issues which are railway network-wide. Four elements of the Network RUS have already been established:
· Scenarios and long distance forecasts,
· Electrification
· Stations
· Passenger rolling stock
The Network RUS: Alternative Solutions is the most recent element to this.
Uniquely the Network RUS: Alternative Solutions has a two stage consultation process. The Draft for Consultation is the second stage of consultation on the development of this RUS. The two stage consultation is being undertaken because of the range of potential solutions that could be considered and because it is recognised that in considering alternative solutions there may be a wide range of views and experience from other industries and contexts which may be relevant to the issues that are addressed. Therefore it is essential that this draft for consultation is presented to the widest possible audience for comment.
Following a 60 day consultation period, the responses will be considered and a final strategy will be published. After a 60 day period, providing there are no objections, the strategy will be established by the Office of Rail Regulation.
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We own, operate and develop Britain's railway infrastructure; that's 20,000 miles of track, 30,000 bridges, tunnels and viaducts and the thousands of signals, level crossings and stations. We run 20 of the UK's largest stations while all the others, over 2,500, are run by the country's train operating companies.
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