South East body urges focus on existing routes
SUB-NATIONAL transport body Transport for the South East has unveiled the first draft of a White Paper outlining transport improvements that it wants to see in the region by 2050.
The draft has been issued alongside a series of consultations that are due to take place in the next 12 weeks, ahead of the completed White Paper being unveiled next spring.
Transport for the South East (TfSE) comprises 16 transport authorities and five Local Enterprise Partnerships covering an area stretching from the English Channel to the outskirts of London, and from the Kent coast to Berkshire, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. Rail proposals are at the heart of the draft strategy, much of which focuses on improving ‘orbital’ or cross-country routes in the region.
“I know there has been a lot of investment, and I know there have been some big-ticket things going on in the South East, but for people living and working it is a challenge. If you want to get around by rail you hear some real horror stories,” Rupert Clubb, lead officer at Transport for the South East, exclusively told RAIL at the launch event.
“The rail orbital routes outside of the M25 and South Coast are challenging. The corridors aren’t particularly reliable, and in some places they don’t exist. So part of the work is saying ‘we need good radial routes within the South East’.”
Clubb told RAIL he wanted to challenge a perception that all journey times in the region are quick and frequent compared with other parts of the country that are also vying for investment for rail upgrades.
“In the South East it can feel a bit odd. You can go from Euston to Birmingham New Street in just over an hour, and it is 120-130 miles, and yet from Hastings to Charing Cross it will take an hour and 50 minutes and it is only 50 miles,” he explained.
“Of course, there are good
engineering reasons for that. But the reliability and journey times, particularly on the orbital routes: one train an hour from Gatwick to Reading? Surely we can do better than that?”
Mark Valleley, technical lead at TfSE, said that the organisation wants to push for improvements to existing lines, rather than focusing on building new connections.
“A key theme for us is that there is a potential to make better use of the infrastructure which is already there,” he told RAIL.
“There are significant challenges in terms of the line out from Reading to Gatwick and Ashford into Kent. But the infrastructure is there, and it is a case of looking to see how we can enhance it.”
Clubb said he wanted to challenge a perception that rail upgrades may not provide the same value for money for taxpayers as building new roads.
“One of the challenges is that rail infrastructure is generally more expensive than new roads, so where does that lead you to? More roads, but maybe we ought to challenge how we appraise transport schemes and start to think about the longer-term strategic benefits for the region.”