Spending Review - Transport.

[whole diary]

[JayMac]

The HM Treasury Spending Review 2010 has been released.

http://cdn.hm-treasury.gov.uk/sr2010_completereport.pdf

The Department for Transport section can be found from page 45 onward.

[standclearplease]

Not a great amount of detail about the GWML^▸ (Great Western Main Line). I guess we'll hear more about it as everything settles down- can't be put off forever though.

[JayMac]

I would think that a more detailed breakdown of the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about)'s part of the spending review will come out of Marsham Street in the next week or so.

[Super Guard]

From: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11569160

Transport

Annual budget: ^13.6bn

What's being cut: 21% budget cut over four years. ^30bn set aside for capital spending, including ^500m for Tyne and Wear Metro and Tees Valley bus network. Crossrail project to go ahead in London. Rise in regulated cap on rail fares to 3% above inflation for three years from 2012.

[RichardB]

Here's the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about)'s press release

http://nds.coi.gov.uk/clientmicrosite/Content/Detail.aspx?ClientId=202&NewsAreaId=2&ReleaseID=416118&SubjectId=36

[Timmer]

Quote from the above Dft press release:

The Government is currently considering revised proposals from Agility trains for the Intercity Express Programme. An announcement will be made in due course. Because aspects of Thameslink and HLOS^▸ (High Level Output Specification) rolling stock programmes, as well as projects to electrify the Great Western Mainline, and the rail routes around Manchester and Liverpool, are interdependent with the IEP^▸ (Intercity Express Program / Project.) decision, a full announcement on all these programmes will be made at the same time.

So its not dead in the water. We just have to keep waiting for the big announcement regards rolling stock and electrification on the GWML^▸ (Great Western Main Line).

[JayMac]

Away from rail briefly....

Spotted this under 'HIGHWAYS AGENCY ROADS' in the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) press release:

Major Schemes
We have made tough choices about investment priorities for the strategic road network. As well as proceeding with existing commitments, the following new schemes are announced today (subject to statutory processes where necessary):

<snip>

- The M4 and M5 north of Bristol ^ fixing the worst congestion spot in the South West, and easing journeys to Wales.

Wonder what that's going to entail? Can't see the Avonmouth Bridge being widened any further!

Also, wouldn't electrification and new rolling stock on the GWML^▸ (Great Western Main Line) help 'ease journeys to Wales'? 

[Mookiemoo]

well not charging ^10 for a simple vehicle to get to wales would help

[JayMac]

One thing I've also just noticed on the spending review document. The price for a paper copy:

^45.00

That should raise a few bob for Treasury coffers!

[Zoe]

Wonder what that's going to entail? Can't see the Avonmouth Bridge being widened any further!

It will be Active Traffic Management.  This consists of 50 mph speed limits at peak times, traffic lights at the end of slip roads for joining motorways and hard shoulder running.

[willc]

If so, will be good new for manufacturers of gantries, given the number that now litter the M42 south of Birmingham since the system was implemented there.

[Electric train]

Away from rail briefly....

Spotted this under 'HIGHWAYS AGENCY ROADS' in the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) press release:

Major Schemes
We have made tough choices about investment priorities for the strategic road network. As well as proceeding with existing commitments, the following new schemes are announced today (subject to statutory processes where necessary):

<snip>

- The M4 and M5 north of Bristol ^ fixing the worst congestion spot in the South West, and easing journeys to Wales.

Wonder what that's going to entail? Can't see the Avonmouth Bridge being widened any further!

Also, wouldn't electrification and new rolling stock on the GWML^▸ (Great Western Main Line) help 'ease journeys to Wales'? 

But that would not help the Tories funders ....... the road transport industry

[devon_metro]

Away from rail briefly....

Spotted this under 'HIGHWAYS AGENCY ROADS' in the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) press release:

Major Schemes
We have made tough choices about investment priorities for the strategic road network. As well as proceeding with existing commitments, the following new schemes are announced today (subject to statutory processes where necessary):

<snip>

- The M4 and M5 north of Bristol ^ fixing the worst congestion spot in the South West, and easing journeys to Wales.

Wonder what that's going to entail? Can't see the Avonmouth Bridge being widened any further!

Also, wouldn't electrification and new rolling stock on the GWML^▸ (Great Western Main Line) help 'ease journeys to Wales'? 

The Avonmouth bridge isn't even too bad now that it is 4 lanes both ways and the seemingly endless roadworks have finally ended! I remember those roadworks from when I was a kid!!

[Chris from Nailsea]

well not charging ^10 for a simple vehicle to get to wales would help

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

'Severn tolls hitting firms hard'

Concerns over the impact of tolls on businesses using the two Severn motorway crossings have been given to MPs^▸ (Member of Parliament).

Haulage and business leaders called the tolls "gratuitous," in evidence to the Welsh affairs committee.

But Severn River Crossing said tolls were set by Parliament.

Jim Clune, general manager of Severn River Crossing, explained that the Severn Bridges Act 1992 set out the toll levels which were amended each year based on the Retail Price Index.

[Mookiemoo]

thats why I go by train even though it takes me longer - but a few quid compared to ^10 and the petrol

oh - and I prefer cardiff to bristol for shopping because its close to the station