Written evidence from West Coast Rail
250 (HSR 39)
1. West Coast Rail 250 is a non-party political
organisation, which has long-established and excellent working
relationships with Network Rail, the relevant Train Operating
Companies, and the Department for Transport, and:
"campaigns for improved and environmentally
sustainable rail services along the West Coast Main Line to support
the economic development and social cohesion of communities along
the WCML rail corridor."
2. These aims are supported by the following
key objectives:
(1) Increased capacity for passenger and freight
services.
(2) Faster and more frequent long distance services.
(3) Improved links between local and regional
centres and cross-border services.
(4) Improved facilities for passengers including
access to local bus services.
3. When our Campaign started in 1992 train services
on the West Coast were amongst the most unreliable in the country.
Our campaigning inside and outside of Parliament was crucial in
delivering the success that is the West Coast today. We were instrumental
in securing the option of a full route upgrade and new tilting
trains when the first franchise was let in 1997.
4. We were, and still are, the only nationwide
Campaign focussed on the West Coast Main Line and its crucial
role to our local economies. We represent over 40 local authorities
along the WCML and have strong links with both Houses of Parliament
through the All-Party Group for the West Coast Main Line. This
is a formally registered Group, sponsored by WCR250 and its activities
complement those of the wider campaign. We also benefit from links
to the Welsh Assembly via the membership of the North Wales local
authorities.
5. West Coast Rail 250 is a strong advocate of
new High Speed Rail Line services between London, the West Midlands,
North West England and Scotland.
6. Our commitment to a new High Speed Line recognises
the importance of reducing journey times to and from Scotland,
northern England and the regions as well as providing important
extra capacity on the existing WCML.
7. We strongly endorsed the Network Rail "New
Lines" report of August 2009 recommending top priority for
a new high-speed line along the current West Coast route. The
Greengauge 21 Report published in September 2009 also supports
this strategy and underlines the role of high-speed rail in accommodating
future growth, and allowing the current WCML to offer improved
local and regional rail services. Subsequent studies from these
organisations and HS2 Ltd all confirm the need for extra capacity.
8. The recent WCML RUS and other evidence from
NWR and Virgin Trains all indicates that the capacity of the existing
line will be exhausted within six to 10 years depending on growth
forecasts. What does not appear to be in doubt is a shared recognition
that growth in national rail travel will continue at historically
high levels—the only doubt is around the rate of growth.
9. WCR 250 is committed to campaigning for a
new high speed route between Scotland and London, with new high-speed
lines to the centres of Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Glasgow
and Edinburgh, with stops at important calling points along the
route such as Preston and Carlisle.
10. Such a new high-speed line offers enormous
benefits to cities and towns located on the existing or "classic"
line, as the switch of long-distance non-stop services will allow
substantial capacity to be released which will deliver:
— a recast
timetable to enable more services between major towns on the route;
— new
capacity for freight services;
— new,
faster journeys to and from larger regional centres such as Lichfield
Trent Valley, Tamworth, Nuneaton, Rugby, Northampton, and Milton
Keynes;
— reductions
in overcrowding; and
— immediate
improvements to all services north of Birmingham from day one
of the opening of the first phase.
11. We also wish to secure benefits to communities
in North Wales as soon as the first phase has been opened. Even
if London to North Wales services have to remain on the classic
WCML until the North Wales Coast line is electrified, there should
be some combination of reduced journey times, increased frequencies
and a better range of through services for North Wales. It could
also open up the prospect of through services being reintroduced
between London and Shrewsbury via the classic WCML and Birmingham,
maybe even onto the Cambrian line.
12. We recognise the economic importance of high
speed rail to Scottish regional centres and the cities of Glasgow
and Edinburgh, and it is therefore important that high speed rail
is not just considered as a link to London but is also considered
in terms of improved links between Scotland and the North-West
and West Midlands. A high speed line to Scotland, or starting
in Scotland as well as at the London end, gives the opportunity
for Birmingham—Scotland and Manchester/Liverpool—Scotland
services to use the new line.
13. We understand there are arguments for commencing
simultaneous construction of a new high speed line in Scotland
and we look to the Scottish Parliament and Transport Scotland
to make the detailed economic case in a way that has not so far
been evident.
14. It is accepted by NWR that the interim period—between
now and the opening of the first phase of HS2 - will see a major
capacity shortfall on the WCML. We would therefore urge Network
Rail and the DfT to explore all options for further infrastructure
improvements and schemes that deliver extra capacity on the existing
WCML.
15. We do not support those groups or individuals
who believe that there is no case for a new high speed line based
on assertions that there is still much extra capacity to be provided
on the existing WCML through a further major "upgrade".
We reject this view and would remind the Select Committee that
the recent West Coast Route Modernisation, resulting in only a
partial upgrade of the line, caused huge disruption to services
and the public, particularly with weekend blockades. A repeat
of this would not be worth the upheaval for what would be a relatively
small increase in capacity compared with that arising from a new
high speed line.
12 May 2011
| 
