Strategic Rail Authority

£400 Million for Local Rail Projects
_______________________________________________________________

date 7 December 2001
source Strategic Rail Authority
type Press release

£400million over ten years was today pledged by the SRA through its
relaunched Rail Passenger Partnership (RPP) fund.

RPP funding for new commuter trains for West Yorkshire and improved information systems on the Carlisle to Newcastle route is being announced at the same time.
The fund, for regional priorities, will support projects as diverse as:

Longer trains.
New train services (including Sunday services).
Better interchange facilties, access to stations and new and extended car parks.
Secure cycle storage.
New stations.

The new streamlined Fund will include the following features

Maximum limit for 'Fast Track' (4-6 week assessment) applications is
being increased from £100,000 to £250,000.
Grants for capital as well as current expenditure.
Broader scope of type of schemes eligible for funding (eg including buslinks)
Greater SRA involvement in all stages of process from development of
concept onwards.

SRA Chief Executive Mike Grant said:

"Many improvements to the rail network have been delivered through our Rail
Passenger Partnership to date. However, there is scope for speeding up the
assessment process for many potential projects, and today's change to the
rules is doing just that.

"Today's announcements on the West Yorkshire and Hexham projects
provide more examples where the fund has already been used to finance a
better service for passengers.

The RPP scheme, initially launched in 1999, aims to bring about modal shift
from road to rail and improve transport integration. So far, 41 awards have
been made at a cost of £45million.

Notes to Editors
1. Today's changes to the RPP assessment process also invo lve a new focus
on consultation and project management, and the support of regional and
local transport plans (in liaison with DTLR, National Assembly of Wales and
the Scottish Executive).
2. RPP funding for new trains for West Yorkshire and new information
systems on the Carlisle-Hexham-Newcastle line are also being announced
today.
For further details contact the Department for Transport Rail Press
desk: 020 7944 3108

Railhub Archive ::: 2001-12-07 SRA-001