Railtrack plc

Railtrack welcomes integrated transport strategy consultation exercise by Deputy Prime Minister
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date 21 August 1997
source Railtrack plc
type Press release

Railtrack, owners of the country's infrastructure, welcomed the announcement from the Deputy Prime Minister on an integrated transport strategy consultation exercise and said it would look forward to playing a full and thorough part in the Government's commitment to increase rail usage.

In a statement issued from its London headquarters, the company said: "Railtrack is determined to position the railways as the natural alternative to road based transport. Continued growth in rail travel is vital to the UK's economic success and environmental health. The Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions is demonstrating leadership on this pivotal issue and Railtrack wholeheartedly supports its initiative."

Railtrack already has under way a study of the key rail arteries in London. Its Inner London Orbital Routes Study, which began a few months ago, is designed to provide an assessment of the current and future capacity needs of the network to allow Railtrack to develop a long term investment strategy to increase the capacity available to meet the needs of train operators and the travelling public.

The study is looking at how Railtrack can make better use of the existing rail network and will assess whether demand exists for a new "outer circle" route which could link the south London network through Clapham Junction with the West and North London lines, integrating London Underground's East London Line.

Direct rail services, north to south across London, involving the newly launched Rugby to Gatwick, were already in operation.

In its statement, Railtrack said it was already demonstrating, on behalf of the railway industry, its commitment to better and more effective use of the nation's rail assets. Investment in the infrastructure has been dramatically increased and train performance improved with a 30 per cent reduction in delays to all passenger trains in the first year. New deals were being worked through to increase capacity between London and Birmingham on the Chiltern Line and to upgrade the West Coast Main Line. At the same time the company was supporting passenger and freight operators in their investment in new rolling stock and was involved in a national freight strategy to get more lorries off the roads.

Railhub Archive ::: 1997-08-21 RTK-001