UK - call for disused railway lines to reopen

[John Ashworth]

Train operators call for disused railway lines to reopen

Scores of disused railway lines closed by more than 40 years ago should reopen to increase the capacity of Britain's public transport network, a report from train operators is expected to say this week.

By David Barrett
Telegraph.co.uk
Published: 9:00PM BST 13 Jun 2009

The Association of Train Operating Companies is due to give unprecedented backing to the restoration of disused track and the reintroduction of passenger services on other routes which currently only carry freight.

Its plan will even advocate bringing in passenger services on "heritage" lines which have been preserved by steam train enthusiasts, it is understood.

With the backing of private sector operators, the report could mark a turning point in the campaign to expand Britain's rail network which until now has largely been the preserve of smaller pressure groups.

Lines which could be prioritised for reopening include the Uckfield to Lewes line in East Sussex, the Bristol to Portishead line and Yorkshire's Harrogate-Ripon-Northallerton route.

The report is understood to say that more than a million extra people could gain access to the rail network if its recommendations are followed.

It is also expected to propose a number of new stations on existing lines, which campaigners have previously suggested could reduce congestion on roads surrounding main stations and alleviate the need for ever-larger car parks.

In the decade after Dr Richard Beeching's first report on rail modernisation, published in 1964, more than 4,000 miles of track were closed and the number of stations was halved to 3,000.

There were further closures into the 1970s.

Re-openings could include branch lines which were deemed unprofitable by Dr Beeching at a time of shrinking rail revenues, now that train travel is a enjoying massive growth.

There were 1.2 billion passenger journeys in 2007-08, up 45 per cent on the figure from a decade earlier.

Aside from branch lines, other sections of disused track could be reopened which would make the network more efficient and cut journey times.

For example, the restoration of the Manton Curve in Rutland would allow direct services between Kettering and Peterborough, while reopening the Woodhead line from Manchester to Sheffield would increase capacity between the two cities.

A White Paper published by the Government in 2007 said there were no plans to reopen branch lines and even hinted that it might no longer be appropriate to protect them from development.