It has been a frenetic 12 months in British and world politics. As this government limps towards the finishing line, previous commitments to transport infrastructure investment seem to be falling by the wayside. Last week substantial cuts (or at least, ‘delays in expenditure’) were announced for HS2 and ‘active travel’ programmes.
We have also heard that many of the railway schemes awarded grants from the ‘Reversing Beeching’ scheme may not now progress past an initial feasibility study.
And yet, despite strikes, inflation and general gloom, the DfT reported toward the end of 2022 that rail passenger numbers had recovered to 99% of pre-covid levels.
And three new railway reopening schemes are progressing. The 18-mile-long Newcastle to Ashington line in Northumberland, costing £166Mn (including road improvement works and 6 refurbished stations), is due to open in summer 2024. Northumberland County Council anticipate cost benefits of £0.5Bn to the local economy.
The 5-mile long Levenmouth railway reopening in East Fife is expected to open in Spring 2024 and will bring a catchment of 40,000 people within a 75 minute rail journey of Edinburgh.
And a strategic business case has been completed for the 5-mile long Plymouth to Tavistock reopening in Devon. The County Council are now seeking a £3Mn government grant to take the project to the next stage. The railway would underpin new business investment at Devonport and housing expansion near Tavistock and is expected to carry 400,000 passengers a year.
So rail investment is happening, the pre-operational cost benefits still look good – and we know from previous schemes, the eventual benefits often eclipse those expected.