South West “not getting a fair share” - MP Pollard
Three key challenges are affecting the South West’s railway prospects, according to Plymouth North MP Luke Pollard.
Speaking exclusively to RAIL, the Labour MP, who is also a member of the Transport Select Committee, said: “We have three engineering problems: resilience, journey times and capacity. All three need to be addressed.”
Pollard also queried Secretary of State for Transport Chris Grayling’s claims that the Dawlish Sea Wall section was his number one priority, saying: “If you want to make it real, if Dawlish is actually a priority, then we need an actual funded fix. Then we need a longterm Dawlish Avoiding Line.”
Talking to RAIL on April 24, Pollard said: “I met John Armitt [National Infrastructure Commission Chairman] last night. There’s billions for HS2, billions for Crossrail for the north, and more for Crossrail 2. Dawlish is just a press release.
“Is it about an immediate fix or a long-term plan for a faster and resilient railway? It needs to happen to keep the railway open this year, next year, and so on.”
Pollard spelled out the need for connectivity for the region, saying: “We need connections in every direction. As we are served by a singular spine, it means major service disruption not just to London but to the Midlands, Scotland and Wales. That’s a really big effect on the economy. It is worrying that this has become normalised. We expect closures!”
He also called for new rolling stock to be included in the next CrossCountry franchise. Currently, if the seas are rough XC cannot run its Class 220/221 Voyagers beyond Exeter as water will damage the roof-mounted equipment. Pollard added that the trains are also overcrowded. “New rolling stock could make the difference,” he said.
On the subject of new stock, he
said of the Great Western Railway Class 802s: “It is not a substitute for infrastructure upgrades or resilience.”
Discussing the calls for investment, he said: “As a region, we don’t only want one thing. There’s a lazy thinking that we can only ask for one thing. Tourism is important, but the sole line supports so much more - it supports entire economies. It’s not just one sector. I think the region has to be better, louder and prouder, and our economy is diverse and successful.”
Pollard said he has no problem with money being spent in other regions, “but I do have a problem with us not getting a fair share. We have been neglected for far too long. There’s cross-party agreement, but why is there no vocal campaigning? We need ministers under pressure. We are way too passive politically.”
He explained that Labour has committed £2.5 billion to spend on upgrades.
“That is what the Peninsula Rail Task Force says we need over ten years, to deliver plans for the Great Western Main Line. That would pay for track straightening, for signalling upgrades, and getting the line ready for the Dawlish Avoiding, but it would not pay for the Avoiding Line. It would reduce journey times and get more capacity.
“£2.5bn compared with HS2 or Crossrail? It is, relatively speaking, entirely achievable.”
He concluded: “As a region, Devon and Cornwall has been forgotten for far too long. That frustrates me. Why are we not seeing a relentless campaign to deliver what is the South West’s number one ask?
“No new money, no new strategy, and now no new plan. Chris Grayling made his pledge, and predictably it was swallowed.”