Network Rail Strategic Business Plan Update

[whole diary]

[Lee]

The Network Rail Strategic Business Plan Update can be found in the link below.
http://www.networkrail.co.uk/aspx/4357.aspx

The summary of proposed capacity interventions is interesting :

Route 12: Reading to Penzance

London & South East

1. Train lengthening for Kennet Valley service

Route 13: Great Western Main Line

Long Distance

1. The deployment of High Density High Speed Trains on services into Paddington to provide additional capacity

London & South East

1. Strengthening Paddington peak arrivals up to 7 cars
2. Additional fleet of faster vehicles to operate 6 or 7 car Thames valley and some Cotswold/Oxford to Paddington main line services

Regional: Commuter

1. Strengthen Bristol area services to 4 cars
2. Additional vehicles for new Ebbw Vale service

Route 14: South and Central Wales and Borders

Regional: Rural

1. Hourly Cambrian service and Pembroke Dock service

Route 15: South Wales Valleys

Regional: Commuter

1. Strengthening the Valleys services and half-hourly Vale of Glamorgan service

Route 16: Chilterns

Long Distance

1. Train lengthening the Birmingham Snow Hill to Marylebone services

London & South East

1. Train lengthening local services to Marylebone
2. December 2010 timetable re-cast to provide a peak hour regular train service, shorter journey times, and more capacity.

[John R]

Interesting how plans are going backwards. In the 2007 Route Plan both the Pilning Loops and Worle Jn - Milton projects were shown as competing in 08/09 year. In the new plan they are shown as completing in the 09/10 year. Moreover, the Pilning Loops project has progressed in the space of a year from Grip stage 3 to,.... wait for it, 2.


There are also other inconsistencies. In the section on engineering access it says that the Swindon -Kemble redoubling is a prerequisite for NARS work in the Severn Tunnel area, which will happen in 09/10. Yet elsewhere in the document the redoubling is shown as happening a couple of years later. 

So, I would take the view that don't believe anything until the first sod is cut. (Am I allowed to use the word sod?)

[Lee]

Thanks for those observations on the Strategic Business Plan Update. I have an interesting weekend ahead studying this one.......

[swlines]

As have I - already downloaded and studying on the train to North Berwick!!