Great Western Railway (GWR) will now pay for a study into possible improvements to rail infrastructure between London and Devon and Cornwall, resolving a funding impasse.
South West MPs pressured the government over a lack of funding for the study, which will be carried out by Network Rail and funded and commissioned by train operator GWR.
South West
The study will consider the scope for improvements to existing track, signalling and other infrastructure to reduce journey times, helping to realise the full benefits of new trains.
It will inform a report on the South West rail network that the Peninsula Rail Task Force is providing to the Department for Transport (DfT) this summer.
The task force is a partnership of five local authorities – Cornwall, Devon and Somerset County Councils, Plymouth City Council and Torbay Council – and two local enterprise partnerships that aims to put the case for greater investment in the region’s rail network.
A spokesperson for the task force said: ‘We are pleased that the funding has been found to explore the potential for faster journey time and electrification for the Peninsula Rail Task Force report. We alerted DfT about this issue in December, so it is helpful that this has finally been sorted, and our sincere thanks to our MPs who have been so active in this regard.
'The Task Force has been working with the Department of Transport and Network Rail since last summer on planning the report and naturally Great Western Railway has been a key partner in our work. The support from GWR enables us to fulfil our joint commitment to a detailed and rigorous document, which is something that all of agreed was required from the outset. We are grateful to GWR for its timely intervention.’
Rail minister Claire Perry said: ‘I was determined to find a funding solution for this study to look at line speed improvements and I am delighted that Great Western Railway have provided the backing.
‘We are absolutely committed to improving the resilience of the South West’s rail network, with more than £70m invested in this route so far and routine maintenance continuing to strengthen the line further.’
GWR’s commercial development director Matthew Golton said: ‘In the coming years we will be delivering the biggest fleet upgrade in a generation of the Great Western network - including a brand new fleet of trains for customers travelling between Devon and Cornwall and London to deliver faster, more frequent services into the capital from 2018.
‘With such significant investment on its way, we need to take the opportunity now to make sure the right infrastructure can be in place to maximise the journey time, frequency and capacity benefits that the new AT300 fleet will bring. Our report will help provide information and data to help support the business case for further infrastructure improvements and better connectivity for the region.’
Register now for full access
Register just once to get unrestricted, real-time coverage of the issues and challenges facing UK transport and highways engineers.
Full website content includes the latest news, exclusive commentary from leading industry figures and detailed topical analysis of the highways, transportation, environment and place-shaping sectors.
Use the link below to register your details for full, free access.
Already a registered? Login
