THE HOUSE of Commons Transport Select Committee is warning that the amount of money available for rail investment will be restricted for at least the next decade. But the Committee says more electrification remains very important, with the Midland Main Line seen as a particular priority.
The warning about funding for rail comes in a new report, Priorities for Investment in the Railways. It says electrification of the Great Western Main Line and several routes in the north west will go ahead, but warns that Network Rail's ability to fund further projects in Control Period 5, which starts in 2014, could be limited.
The Committee praises the environmental performance of rail, and points out that certain pinch points, such as the proposed Manchester Hub, must be dealt with sooner rather than later. It does criticise the Government's stance on new or restored railways, saying: "We were not satisfied by the Minister’s response regarding the proposals to 'connect communities'. For relatively modest costs, these schemes to open new lines and stations, and re-open old lines, can be of great value to communities and passenger usage has often exceeded expectations. The Government should take a more positive and pro-active policy position."
It also supports the Government's recent u-turn in favour of High Speed rail, noting that the 2007 rail White Paper had tended to support the reservations about developing High Speed lines which had been voiced by the Eddington report. The Committee says the new policy in favour of a High Speed network is to be welcomed.
But it warns that the classic network cannot be set on one side while a High Speed network is developed: “It is essential that investment in a high speed rail network does not detract from necessary medium term investment on the classic network. Capacity constraints look set to worsen in the next decade and we must continue to invest to address these problems.”
On freight, the report warns of a lack of clarity about funding after 2014. It says: “The need to invest in rail freight is more clear and pressing than ever in the context of the UK’s climate change targets. We would expect the funding committed to the Strategic Freight Network to be, at the very least, maintained by the Government in the next control period.”