Nicholas Lewis
Established Member
NR and Highways England have put out this report today addressing freight movements between the Solent and Midlands
https://highwaysengland.co.uk/media/rc4bekfn/solent-to-the-midlands-multimodal-freight-strategy.pdf
Study advocates a series of interventions
NR team still has Basingstoke to Southampton conversion to 25kV so the electric spine hasn't quite run out of charge yet.
Mind you as with all these studies and strategies they describe common sense but then sit on the shelves gathering dust but with Shapps telling Transport Committee early in the week there will be announcement on Transport Decarbonisation before parliament rises we may at last getting some clear direction of travel.
https://highwaysengland.co.uk/media/rc4bekfn/solent-to-the-midlands-multimodal-freight-strategy.pdf
Study advocates a series of interventions
1. Improving existing passing loops between Eastleigh and Basingstoke
2. Grade separation at Basingstoke
3. Assuming OLE electrification of Southampton to Basingstoke, provision of electrified diversionary route via Andover [note that this was identified in the previous ‘Electric Spine’ study aspirations]
4. Capacity enhancements between Southcote Junction (Jn) and Oxford Road Jn in Reading
5. Grade separation at Didcot East Jn and Oxford North Jn
6. Capacity improvements Didcot – Oxford and Oxford station
7. Banbury Loops
8. Leamington Spa station remodelling
9. Water Orton area interventions
10. Sutton Park Line electrification
11. Gauge clearance of W10 of diversionary route via Westbury and Melksham
12. Gauge clearance to W8 of Bradford Jn to Bathampton Jn
13. Electrification of key freight terminals in the West Midlands
NR team still has Basingstoke to Southampton conversion to 25kV so the electric spine hasn't quite run out of charge yet.
Mind you as with all these studies and strategies they describe common sense but then sit on the shelves gathering dust but with Shapps telling Transport Committee early in the week there will be announcement on Transport Decarbonisation before parliament rises we may at last getting some clear direction of travel.