UK: Rail chiefs' vision

[John Ashworth]

Rail chiefs' vision: better services, more information, lower costs

Industry plans for £5.6bn of schemes include delivering more than 700 extra train services a day between northern cities

guardian.co.uk, Thursday 29 September 2011 11.15 BST

Rail chiefs have announced plans to provide better services, improved passenger information and cuts in the cost of running the railways.

The programme, described as an initial industry plan, covers the period between 2014 and 2019, with the industry aiming to cut rail costs by £1.3bn a year by the end of the decade.

Plans include £5.6bn of schemes, including the Northern Hub – a £560m proposal to deliver more than 700 extra services a day between Leeds, Manchester, Liverpool, Newcastle upon Tyne and Sheffield.

The programme also includes journey time improvements in the East Midlands, Yorkshire, Bristol and Oxford areas and the electrification of the Midland main line, the north trans-Pennine line and further electrification schemes in Scotland.

It also envisages improvements to a number of stations including Fenchurch Street, in London, and Liverpool Central, as well as a £200m scheme to improve services between Inverness and Aberdeen.

By better linking Britain's major cities, an extra 180,000 peak time seats could be provided, as well as a 30% increase in freight.

Rail chiefs also announced plans to move from 800 signal boxes to 14 modern signalling centres.

The hoped-for schemes – which will need government approval – are in addition to £4.9bn of ongoing projects such as the Thameslink and Crossrail schemes in London and already-announced electrification schemes such as that for the Great Western line.

The rail industry also spoke of trying to improve the passenger experience in key areas such as information, comfort and accessibility.

The Network Rail group strategy director, Paul Plummer, said: "The railways are booming, with more and more people choosing rail. Closer collaboration within the industry will deliver even more efficiencies.

"This revenue growth and improved efficiency taken together provide governments with real choices to consider, choices around the appropriate balance between subsidy, investment and fares."

Michael Roberts, the chief executive of the Association of Train Operating Companies, said: "Rail has a bright future in supporting a successful green economy in the years ahead.

"This plan shows how we can do that by providing a better quality of service to growing numbers of passengers at a more affordable cost.

"We look forward to working with the government to ensure the right framework is in place to make this possible."

The plan comes as season-ticket holders face average fare rises of 8% in the new year, at a time when passenger numbers are rising on a network where rail costs are seen as too high.