Feasability funding - schemes to be funded in tranche 2

[whole diary]

[grahame]

From National Infrastructure Strategy Presented to Parliament by the Chancellor of the Exchequer by Command of Her Majesty November 2020 - end of Chapter 1.

Second tranche announcement?  15 projects.

The government will provide further feasibility funding for an additional fifteen proposals to inform decisions on further development: reopening Beeston Castle and Tarporley station in Cheshire, St. Anne?s Park station in Bristol, and Ferryhill station in County Durham; reinstating links between Bolton, Radcliffe, and Bury; the Stratford- upon-Avon to Honeybourne/Worcester/Oxford line; new stations at Waverley in South Yorkshire and a station in the Langport/Somerton area of Somerset; improved services from Melton Mowbray and Falmouth; upgrading the South Fylde Line; the Maid Marian line between Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire; reinstating rail access to Cirencester; restoring services between Swanage and Wareham; the South Humber rail link; and a new link between Consett and Newcastle.

[Bmblbzzz]

Surprised at St Anne's Park station being 'feasibility funded' in preference to Saltford.

[grahame]

Surprised at St Anne's Park station being 'feasibility funded' in preference to Saltford.

Sponsorship of the applications was required from the local MP^▸ (Member of Parliament, or Mile Post (a method of measuring the railway in miles and chains from a starting point - usually London), depending on context), and I recall that the MP who's constituency includes St Anne's Park is reputed to be far more modern and pro-rail that the honourable member for Saltford.

[grahame]

Offiicial DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) press release - adding to Autumn Statement comments:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/reconnecting-the-railways-communities-awarded-funding-to-restore-beeching-rail-links-and-forgotten-stations

View from the RMT^▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers):
https://www.rmt.org.uk/news/rmt-responds-to-dft-statement-on-beeching-rail-links-and/

Reality somewhere between - very welcome indeed to be looking at these schemes; this funding fills a very real gap that we had to jump with TransWilts for Wilton, for example, but it certainly does not take things forward to actually getting trains on tracks and bums on seats to Miller's Dale for Tideswell ... Kirby Muxloe ... Mow Cop and Scholar Green ... Blandford Forum and Mortehoe ... Midsomer Norton and Mumby Road ... Chorlton-cum-Hardy or Chester-le-Street ... (yes, I am aware that one of those has National Rail Trains, and one has the Heritage ...)

[grahame]

Didn't see it in the Chancellor's paper, but the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) press release includes

A proposal for a Mid-Cornwall Metro has also been awarded development funding which would create a coast to coast through-service connecting the biggest towns in Cornwall ? Newquay, Par, St Austell, Truro, Penryn and Falmouth ? reducing journey times and easing road congestion.