FEATURE: LOGISTICS, FREIGHT & TRANSPORTATION


The road to building better transport links in the South West starts here


An extract from the Department for Transport’s Investing in the South West document by the Rt Hon Chris Grayling MP, Secretary of State for Transport


No region can thrive without decent transport links. People across the South West rely on such links for work, education, leisure and access to essential services. Last year over 23 million people visited the South West, confirming its place as one of our greatest natural assets. But we know this is also a region with challenges. As a largely rural region with a unique geography, the consequences of poor transport can often be economic and social isolation, both for the region and its people. We know that this region prizes


its links to the rest of the UK highly and feels the effect keenly whenever they are disrupted. I also understand some people feel isolated from the rest of the country – and from the decisions taken in London that affect people’s lives. Better transport won’t just help people get around, it’ll help people get on in life by giving them access to jobs and schools. This in turn will support the creation of a stronger and more productive economy. So we are continuing to deliver


on ‘devolution deals’, such as in the West of England and in Cornwall, which will provide powers to make investments based on local


knowledge and needs. And we are supporting the development of SubNational Transport Bodies and other partnerships, such as the Peninsula Rail Task Force, to act as powerful voices for the regions, helping to develop and secure the strategic transport interventions that they need for long term economic prosperity. New high


speed trains are finally replacing the old Intercity 125s in the biggest upgrade to the South West’s rail services in a generation. The new trains will offer more seats, quicker journeys and better reliability. Our investment in the region’s


‘Better


transport won’t just help people get around, it’ll help people get on in life’


at what would need to be done to deliver greater capacity for diversions between Castle Cary and Exeter and allow early delivery of more frequent train services between Axminster and Exeter. We know that the resilience of the Great Western Main Line – particularly at Dawlish – is crucial to the region. Since the storms of 2014 the Government and its partners have been working firstly to repair and now secure the resilience of the line. The


Government will now invest up to £80m in a


new sea wall that will provide greater protection to the


railways will continue. We want to bring regular train services back to Okehampton in Devon and we recognise local aspirations for an Okehampton to Plymouth rail link. We also share local ambitions for a state-of-the-art suburban rail service in the Bristol area – including the reopening of the Portishead line. We are also looking


railway at Dawlish – keeping vital services running and giving passengers the reliable services they deserve. The Government is supporting


the great cities in the region to improve their transport. The city regions of Bristol, Plymouth and South East Dorset are set to receive funding to develop transport and promote local growth through the £2.5bn Transforming Cities Fund. Towns and cities across the


South West have recognised the benefits of cycling and walking to improve health and wellbeing, congestion and air quality. The Department is currently working with six local authorities in the South West to develop local cycling and walking networks. This includes Bristol who are one


of eight Cycle Ambition Cities across England at the forefront of


32 Chamber Profile Spring 2019


work to help create safe, liveable and active cities who are sharing a total of £210m in Government funding. The Government is committed to


making our roads safer and we have allocated £100m to help tackle the 50 most dangerous A roads in England, including essential safety improvements on roads in Cornwall, Devon,


Gloucestershire and North Somerset. It is essential that the regions


and nations of the UK have good links to the capital. Following Parliament’s support in 2018 for a third runway at Heathrow, the future is bright for regional airports such as Bournemouth, Bristol, Exeter and Newquay. We expect around 15% of the new runway capacity to be used for domestic flights, and the South West stands to benefit from the improved air, rail and road links to an expanded Heathrow, opening up links to all the fast growing, long haul markets around the world that Heathrow can provide. Our investment will help the


South West create jobs and compete for decades to come in a rapidly changing global economy – and demonstrates the continued delivery of the six point long term economic plan for the region as outlined by the Chancellor in 2015. We are investing in the South


West. Investing to build a stronger, more productive economy, investing to connect people to work and education, investing to make travelling easier and more reliable, investing to create greener infrastructure and investing to give the region infrastructure fit for the future.


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