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FROM THE RAILNEWS PAGES.

Rail boss says three high-speed rail routes are needed
Posted: 15th February 2008 | From Railnews print edition by Matthew George

Network Rail boss Iain Coucher has said Britain needs three high-speed rail lines by 2020, and revealed that he wants trains to run every day of the year.

He has suggested new lines from London to Glasgow via Birmingham, to Edinburgh via Leeds and Newcastle upon Tyne, and from the capital to Cardiff via Bristol.

Mr Coucher says the highspeed line between London St Pancras and the Channel tunnel that opened last November should be just the first stage in a new network. He said the demand is already building up, and he wants to discuss with the train operators what should happen.

Labour has been unenthusiastic about the idea of expensive new high-speed lines, but NR believes planning must start now, so that there is time to build them, without having to rush, by around 2020.

Mr Coucher has also said he wants trains to run every day, including Christmas Day and Boxing Day, instead of closing down for engineering work.

The Office of Rail Regulation has said the industry has a challenge to grow revenue, but also be seen as delivering value for money.

In a submission to the Commons Transport Committee, for its inquiry into delivering a sustainable railway, the ORR says the decision on the balance of funding between fares and subsidy is for the Government, but it was assuming that a significantly higher proportion of rail industry income will come from passenger fares, compared with subsidies, than in recent years.

The ORR also says the industry will have to provide “continued improvement in quality to meet rising customer expectations and, more significantly, improving presentation of the range of fares available”.

It adds: “The assumptions on growth of freight are particularly challenging, with a very significant growth in traffics which face tough road competition.

“This is a challenge to freight operators and to Network Rail.”

The ORR also warns that the industry will have to improve its performance on environmental impact.

It says NR and train operators will have to “work together to develop a longer term vision of what is needed to enhance infrastructure capacity”.

“Given the lead-times on new infrastructure schemes, this needs to start now, feeding into planning for what is needed after 2014.”