Britain’s railways are ‘worst in Europe’
by Paul Clifton
Britain’s railways are the worst in Europe for fares, efficiency and comfort, according to a study commissioned by the union RMT. The report by a research
company, Just Economics, said that UK rail services were less affordable, less comfortable, slower and more inefficient than services in France, Italy and Germany.
DB Schenker plans own wind turbines to boost green credentials
Carbon-free freight services could soon be on the agenda for DB Schenker if its proposals are accepted to use electric locomotives run on power from its own wind turbines. The freight carrier is hoping to partner with energy developer Renewable Energy Systems to build three wind turbines on land owned by DB Schenker near Port Talbot in South Wales, subject to approval from Neath & Port Talbot Council. The energy generated by
the turbines, which would be sold to Network Rail for use in the overhead power cables, would be enough to power a fleet of Class 92 electric locomotives. Alain Thauvette, chief executive of DB Schenker Rail UK, said: ‘Deutsche Bahn wishes to reduce its carbon emissions by 20 per cent by 2020. This proposal is a significant step forward in delivering this carbon reduction target in the UK, while enabling DB Schenker Rail to provide its customers with eco-solutions to reduce their carbon emissions.’
PAGE 8 MARCH 2012
The report found that a typical season ticket in Britain costs 14p per km, compared to 8p per km in Germany, the Netherlands and France, which are the next most expensive countries. Day return tickets were also
found to be more expensive here, with an average cost of 26p per km, compared with 15p in Switzerland, the next most expensive state. The report also said that in the ratio of passengers to seats, only Spanish trains are less comfortable than those in Britain. This was despite the UK investing more in railways than France, Germany or Spain. Only Italian railways see more investment, measured as a proportion of GDP. The frequency of trains
was the only area in which the UK performed better than its continental equivalents. The report’s author, Eilis Lawlor, said: ‘Our research puts figures on what anyone who has been to France or Spain already knows: the UK’s
railways are poor value for money.’ Bob Crow, leader of the RMT
Union, said: ‘Instead of addressing the issue and looking at the cheaper and socially beneficial alternative of a publicly owned railway, McNulty [the government’s report on Rail Value for Money] proposes more cuts and even longer gold-plated franchises.’ A DfT spokesman responded:
‘Unions are right to highlight the cost of railways and that also means looking objectively at Sir Roy McNulty’s conclusions, which set out how this needs to be done.’ A spokesman for the Association
of Train Operating Companies added: ‘This doesn’t come close to giving the full story about rail
travel. Decades of decline on the railways have been reversed since privatisation.’ The report was released ahead
of the government’s response to the McNulty Report.
Sir David Higgins, chief executive of Network Rail, told the Financial Times: ‘People go to Switzerland and ask, why can’t we have the same service? ‘That is because for the last 50
years they have worked relentlessly to standardise their equipment and make sure their railways are easy to maintain. It requires 30 years of continuous investment to ensure our railways get to the level of some of the European railways that we admire.’
Switzerland has spent 50 years standardising its equipment to make its railways easier to maintain
FAWLEY BRANCH LINE TO REOPEN? n
The return of passenger trains to a freight-only branch line in Hampshire has moved a step closer.
A viability study for the re-
introduction of services to Hythe has been approved by Hampshire County Council. Following completion of a
Grip2 study, which established a business case for using the line beside Southampton Water, the council will undertake a technical study to identify the infrastructure that would be needed, calculate
passenger demand and assess how it could be funded. It would serve Totton, Hounsdown, Marchwood and Hythe. Passenger services ended on the line in 1966, but it remains lightly used by freight trains to the military port at Marchwood and the oil refinery at Fawley. The case for re-opening the line is based on providing an hourly shuttle between Hythe and Southampton Central, with a 23-minute journey time. There is no intention to run passenger trains
to the end of the line at Fawley, as this would extend the journey time beyond 30 minutes and prevent an hourly service using a single train. Councillor Mel Kendal,
executive member for environment and transport on Hampshire County Council, said: ‘We are still some years away from opening the line to passengers. Nonetheless, what we have established is encouraging and I can see that a Waterside rail line could help enormously in reducing congestion, which is a key priority for us.’
Shutterstock/sculpies
Shutterstock/Alexander Chaikin
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40