Peninsuala Rail Task Force wishlist published.

[Rapidash]

Herald Express

Electrifying South Devon's trainline in a bid to speed up journey times has been identified as a priority in a report by rail bosses.

The Peninsuala Rail Task Force (PRTF) is drawing up a set of recommendations about upgrading the region's railway network.

In its interim report, On Track, the task force says it wants to electrify the route from Bristol to Paignton and Plymouth; from Plymouth to Penzance and from Basingstoke to Exeter St David's via the West of England route as part of a South West package of electrification.

The report said: "The current plans for electrification from London to South Wales via Bristol do not bring benefits for Cornwall, Devon and Somerset.

"Electrification needs to be extended throughout the peninsula to enable the whole South West to realise its potential benefits, and spark additional development.

"The potential for the South West, which has a far greater population and economy than South Wales, would be significant."

In the report, the task force says the Government should be 'committing' to extending electrification into the South West peninsula, in a phased roll-out from 2019 to 2024, before the new high-speed fleet start operating from 2018.

The PRTF is also examining a long-term management plan for the Dawlish railway line which was partially destroyed in the devastating storms of February 2014.

An additional line from Exeter to Plymouth, via Okehampton, is being considered, which would reduce disruption and journey time, and reflects Network Rail's Western Route Study which highlights another line may be needed, the report states.

This new 'northern route' between Exeter and Plymouth would create potential for growth creation, providing better direct rail access to employment, education and retail areas in Plymouth and Exeter, the report says.

"The Dawlish Additional Line is about future-proofing the resilience and, therefore, reliability of the existing coastal mainline between Exeter and Newton Abbot which is crucial to the PRTF. The line is vital to the economy of the peninsula west of Exeter," it says in the report.

A new line may potentially act as a diversion route from the Dawlish line, which would increase the resilience of the network, according to the task force.

It says the coastal defences along the Dawlish railway line are 'vulnerable to further damage,' and that climate change may increase the frequency and severity of storms and storm damage.

The task force is drawing up an overall resilience strategy which it aims to present in April 2016.

The PRTF says it is working alongside Network Rail, in consultation with Great Western Railway to reduce journey times by changing line infrastructure, calling patterns and timetable specifications.

"Journey times to the South West are significantly greater than journey times for comparable distances to elsewhere in England but specifically the north. Improving access and connectivity will therefore be major factors in the regeneration of the South West," the report says.

"The high speed Hitachi AT300 trains offer the opportunity to achieve even greater improvements in journey time if aligned with an orchestrated enhancement to track and signalling."

Task force chairman, Andrew Leadbetter, said: "On Track sets out our vision for our rail. We want a network that is resilient, that is on a par with the rest of the country, with shorter journey times and enough capacity to meet the needs of our passengers.

"It is vital that we continue the momentum gained over the last few months – we want to show there is a real business case for improving our network for the Government to commit to our connectivity.

"On Track shows that this is not just investment for the sake of it. We have real opportunities to change the way we do business, boosting our economy and helping our communities to take advantage of better connections across the country.

"There is real pay back from investment - employment to education, leisure travel to business commuting, all will benefit. The rail network is a crucial part of our transport system and it is far from acceptable at present.

"New trains will give us scope to improve our journey times but we can not take full advantage if they are running on old, vulnerable tracks. Electrification is helping many communities across the country, but it's not going to impact here.

"So, now is the time for us to identify where the gaps are in our network and what we're going to do about them. With the support of Network Rail and the Department of Transport , we want a plan of delivery that is realistic and enables real results.

"We cannot afford to stand by and On Track is a clear signal to show we are serious about changing the way we travel across the South West."

The PDF for 'On Track can be found here

Thoughts? feelings? exasperations?

 

[Carlisle]

I'm sure electrification will at least reach Plymouth in the not too distant future, I'm much more doubtful though whether the cost of extending to Penzance or a diversionary route for Dawlish sea wall can be justified any time soon

 

[swt_passenger]

My main criticism of the newspaper article is that the PRTF are not 'rail bosses', they are a political pressure group.

 

[miami]

If Dawlish is bad with diesel, how would the sea spray affect OHEL? And are they suggesting 3rd rail just to Exeter, and OHEL Exeter to Penzance (and presumably Exeter to Taunton to Newbury to Reading as well as Taunton to Bristol - both via and avoiding WSM). Or are they suggesting 3rd rail and using SWT to run Salisbury-Exeter-Plymouth-Penzance, adding on even more time to the journey?

What's the longest 3rd rail route?

 

[jopsuk]

If Dawlish is bad with diesel, how would the sea spray affect OHEL?

someone will be along shortly with pictures of 318s, 334s and 380s happily chugging along at Saltcoats with waves drenching them
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

And are they suggesting 3rd rail just to Exeter, and OHEL Exeter to Penzance (and presumably Exeter to Taunton to Newbury to Reading as well as Taunton to Bristol - both via and avoiding WSM). Or are they suggesting 3rd rail and using SWT to run Salisbury-Exeter-Plymouth-Penzance, adding on even more time to the journey?

What's the longest 3rd rail route?

I don't think they are. I think any electrification they;re suggesting can be read as OHLE 25kV AC- much of the justification keeps mentioning the SET/AT300s, which won't have Third Rail 750DC capability. No reason why the AC boundaries couldn't be where the DC currently stops.

Longest DC route is Waterloo-Weymouth

 

[Chris125]

someone will be along shortly with pictures of 318s, 334s and 380s happily chugging along at Saltcoats with waves drenching them

Yep


Real Weather - Saltcoats, Ayrshire - Explored by velton, on Flickr


I'll take the bus! by Peter Ribbeck, on Flickr


Train wash. by John McKnight, on Flickr


the train now approaching..... by jean anderson, on Flickr

 

[jopsuk]

Well done for making sure you got examples of all three

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

My main criticism of the newspaper article is that the PRTF are not 'rail bosses', they are a political pressure group.

Indeed so. People like you and I must despair of seeing such journalese made by those with little detailed knowledge of the subject matter they write...:roll: