A bleak outlook from the ORR on Cotswold redoubling

[whole diary]

[gwr2006]

Commuters fed up with delays and cancellations are being urged to bombard Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly with letters in support of the upgrade scheme (link below.)
http://www.oxfordmail.net/display.var.2241581.0.signal_support_for_rail_update.php

The appeal comes from the county council, which says it is "taking nothing for granted" over plans to reinstate double track on 20 miles of the Cotswold Line, at an estimated cost of at least ^51m.

Network Rail is seeking consent to spend the money from the ORR^» (Office of Rail and Road formerly Office of Rail Regulation - about) and is expecting a decision early next month.

The overall effect of this, and more double track in Gloucestershire and Worcestershire, according to Oxfordshire County Council's rail development officer Adrian Saunders, would benefit commuters into and out of Oxford and beyond.

The council is writing to Ms Kelly and urging commuters to do the same.

Better late than never, eh 

Yet another incorrect quip from Mr Fletcher! There has been an active Cotswolds & Malverns Transport Partnership for the past ten years set up by Oxfordshire and Gloucesteshire County Councils and Cotswold Line Promotion Group. It now also involves Worcestershire, Warwickshire and Herefordshire and all the District Councils. It has worked with the two train companies, Network Rail and the former SRA^» (Strategic Rail Authority - about) to carry out several feasibility studies and bids for investment. So the local councils haven't been doing nothing as Mr Fletcher suggest!

[Lee]

I wasnt suggesting that the councils had been doing nothing. If you had included my entire quote, instead of conveniently snipping it, then you will have noted that I was referring to Tom Harris' Parliamentary answer on written representations.

As you would expect, I am well aware of the feasiblity studies/groups involved, and I think that my previous posts, far from being inaccurate, bear this out.