FEATURE: LOGISTICS, FREIGHT & TRANSPORTATION Investing in the
For the South West, investment into the rail network will unlock a host of benefits, generating an additional £7.2bn of GVA and £1.8bn of transport benefits in the coming years, transforming the economy and our communities. With passenger growth at 128%, we
consistently outstrip industry forecasts and our potential is growing. Seventy five per cent of South West businesses stated that rail is vital to their business and that reducing the journey time to London by 45 minutes would have a significant positive impact on their productivity. Since the severe weather
rail network
PRTF Chair Councillor Andrew Leadbetter outlines the plan to work with the Government to improve the South West rail network
‘Our economy
depends on good connectivity, but
incidents of 2014 when the line was severed at Dawlish, and floods engulfed the Somerset Levels, the South West has been working hard to develop a strategic plan for our rail network. Starting with the formation of the Peninsula Rail Task Force – a partnership of local authorities, LEPs and stakeholders, it has gone on to work with South West MPs to respond to a commission by Government for a plan. This is the result: ‘Closing the gap’, our blueprint for rail. Our plan is not a quick fix, a long term view is
required. The South West has lost out because of poor transport investment for over 20 years, averaging £35/head compared to a national average of £98/head – leaving our region some £2bn behind
unlike other areas, we do not have a good network to start with’
other areas. Our regional rolling stock is the oldest, dating back to the late 1970s. The Met Office says climate change incidents will become more frequent, and with Network Rail warning that the line at Dawlish will suffer closure every four years by 2065, the South West remains more vulnerable than many parts of the UK. Our economy depends on good connectivity, but unlike other areas, we do not have a good network to start with. Our initial priorities of greater
resilience, faster journey times and more capacity and connectivity remain. Our last report, ‘On Track’, set out the importance of maintaining the iconic mainline through Dawlish, creating real journey time savings and greater capacity, as well as increasing the opportunities for communities to interconnect
with other areas. Links to Bristol, Birmingham and London, as well as other travel hubs such as Heathrow, Gatwick and Southampton are vital, as are our interregional provision. The report clearly calls for reliable and high quality services, accessible to all, enabling passengers to work and travel in comfort. Since the initial report, we have undertaken
extensive studies with partners Network Rail, the Department for Transport, Great Western Railway and the University of Plymouth to look at ways to achieve our aims.
18 Chamber Profile January/February 2017
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