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Monday, 14 January, 2002, 08:32 GMT
Rail reform gathers speed
The soon to be unveiled plans include 40 track schemes
By Rebecca Pike, BBC transport reporter
It has been more delayed than the 7.02 to Tunbridge Wells. But the long-awaited publication of the Strategic Rail Plan will be seized upon as a rare piece of sanity in an industry that is becoming unhinged. The SRA spells out how it intends to meet the government's target of 50% growth in passenger numbers and 80% growth in freight over the next ten years.
The plan confirms a number of priority investment projects. They include the completion of the Train Protection Early Warning System, the replacement of all Mark1 - "slamming door" - trains, the completion of the first phase of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link and the upgrade of the West Coast mainline.
There has been criticism of plans to put a disproportionate amount of money into London and the south-east. But half of all commuter journeys go into London. And the SRA insists that the regions are not being neglected. There is £400m for developing so-called Rail Passenger Partnerships - who will advise on small-scale schemes. Cutting congestion These will include new stations, new train services, bigger car parks and better station facilities. One such scheme in Cardiff - where new trains have been leased with a small amount of extra money - has already relieved congestion. The growing skills shortage in the railways will be addressed. As well as the driver shortages which are causing so many problems at the moment, there is also a shortage of signal and track engineers. The SRA is giving a £500,000 grant towards a new National Rail Academy.
Where possible, companies on short-term contracts will be put on a more stable footing. Finally, perhaps in the long-term most crucially, the Strategic Rail Authority itself is being restructured. Management change Richard Bowker wants the authority to provide real leadership in a fragmented industry. It will be streamlined into three separate directorates, from the current nine or 10. Mr Bowker hopes that the publication of this plan will reassure private investors. Certainly it enables franchisees and companies who supply the railways to plan for the long-term. There are still many problems ahead. Not only is the future of Railtrack more uncertain than ever, but, for the first time in years, the unions hold the fate of the whole industry in their hands.
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13 Jan 02 | UK Politics
08 Jan 02 | UK
12 Jan 02 | England
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