NEWS
MPs vote ‘overwhelmingly’ in favour of HS2 Hybrid Bill
MPs overwhelmingly rejected an amendment to scrap the proposed HS2 rail link between London and the West Midlands, despite a Tory rebellion.
The main vote on whether to go ahead with the second reading of the HS2 hybrid Bill for phase one passed by 452 to 41, despite the efforts of ex-Cabinet minister Cheryl Gillan and others to hobble the legislation.
Following the decision, transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin said in a statement given to RTM: “Parliament has made a clear commitment to a key part
of the government’s long-term economic plan. HS2 is a once- in-a-generation opportunity to create jobs and develop skills, provide
the extra space we
need on our rail network for commuters and freight and better connect our biggest cities.
“I am aware of the concerns some who live very close to the HS2 route have. I am confi dent however that by working
together we can
ensure this vital new north- south railway is designed in the right way, and we will have spades in the ground in 2017 as planned.”
Transport minister Robert Goodwill
outlined the schemes for latest
compensation and property purchase
phase one, but added: “We appreciate
But the Bill is no longer expected to become law until after the 2015 general election. A separate Bill will be required for phase two.
Ben Ruse, lead spokesperson for HS2 Ltd, told RTM that the Parliamentary debate was “extremely healthy and productive” and added: “While the result of the vote represents a welcome show of support and commitment from MPs up and down the country, we must now focus on the petitioning and committee process that follows.”
More on HS2 and the legislation on pages 52-61.
Alternative Dawlish route could be ‘disastrous’ for Devon – MP
“I believe that would be
PM David Cameron with railway worker Ross McCulloch, whose t-shirt shows pictures of the Dawlish collapse, during his visit to mark the line’s reopening.
Potential plans to develop a secondary, inland rail
route
linking Plymouth and Exeter, but avoiding Dawlish, could be disastrous for the South Devon economy, according to Totnes MP Sarah Wollaston.
Wollaston, speaking at a Torbay Business Forum, added that she didn’t think resilience could be built for the region’s London links by building a relief line running north of Dartmoor.
building-in disaster for the future of South Devon, should there be another breach of the line at Dawlish,” said the Conservative MP. “Because all you would see is a sense there is no urgency for repairing the line at Dawlish and that would cut us off here in South Devon.”
In April the weather-beaten line at Dawlish, which collapsed in the severe storms earlier this year, was reopened after a gargantuan feat of engineering.
Network Rail has been considering fi ve potential route options for the “long-term improvements of the railway in the South West”.
These are to reinstate the Okehampton line (Plymouth- Exeter), which closed in 1967; creating a new line connecting existing
freight Alphington (near Exeter)
lines from and
Heathfi eld (near Newton Abbot); considering options between Newton Abbot and Exeter (with new tunnels); or making the coastal railway more resilient.
Bombardier builds thousandth Southern carriage
Derby-based train manufacturer Bombardier has hit a production milestone – its thousandth carriage for Southern.
Since July 2002, the factory at Litchurch Lane has supplied the Southern network with several fl eets, beginning with 700 Class 377/1-4s as part of the Mk1 replacement programme.
Since then there have been several more orders for the Sussex/Surrey network, including the 44-strong
Class 171 diesel fl eet, which now serves the Uckfi eld line and the Marshlink.
The thousandth carriage was made on 7 May. Francis
6 | rail technology magazine Apr/May 14
Paonessa, outgoing MD of Bombardier Transportation UK, said: “This milestone demonstrates the enduring and highly successful partnership with our customers, Southern and Porterbrook, who have shown great confi dence
in our Electrostar trains – a fl eet that has continuously evolved in line with passengers’ requirements for comfort and shorter journey times.”
The factory will produce 116 Class 387 carriages, which Southern is procuring on behalf of the DfT to help facilitate the cascade of EMUs elsewhere.
Southern MD Chris Burchell said: “The great contribution made by Derby engineers to rail travel in Britain continues and there are millions of Southern passengers who are, and who will continue to benefi t, from the trains they produce.”
that, for some, no amount of money or help will be enough. And we don’t pretend that these proposals will satisfy everyone.”
© Peter Macdiarmid PA Wire
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