THE GREAT BRITISH TRANSPORT COMPETITION 2 FOREWORD

The case for scrapping (HS2) gets stronger by the day. Increasingly, people from across the political spectrum are waking up to the fundamental issues which have plagued this project. Whether it be the spiralling costs, environmental damage, consistent mismanagement or overwhelming unpopularity of the project, the tide is turning against HS2.

With the latest evidence suggesting that costs could almost double, taxpayers are demanding more for their money. Even on current estimates, scrapping HS2 would free up at least £50 billion to improve transport links up and down the country. But were this to happen, what should replace it? With this question in mind, we joined the TaxPayers’ Alliance in launching The Great British Transport Competition in September 2018, to find popular alternatives to HS2.

We asked all interested parties from across the to submit ideas for transport infrastructure projects. As the judges for this competition - including qualified surveyors, engineers, accountants, politicians and transport industry experts - we have been lucky to receive and assess so many fantastic entries from all around the country. The judging process began in early January and was concluded by early March. After many hours of detailed deliberation and discussion, 28 winning entries were chosen and the sum total of their construction costs came to £45.1 billion.

We were incredibly impressed by the high standard and variety of the entries we received. What particularly stood out was that many of the entries required only relatively small sums of money to achieve vast benefits for local communities. Thank you to everyone who submitted. Taken together, we believe these projects would dramatically transform the transport infrastructure of the nation and have a real impact on many peoples’ lives. All for less than the cost of HS2.

I hope you enjoy reading the winning entries as much as we did judging them. Thank you to everyone who supported the judging process, including Chris Stokes and Harry Fone.

We are delighted now to present the winners of the Great British Transport Competition.

Phil Basey • Lord Berkeley OBE • Michael Byng Lord Framlingham • James Roberts • Craig Tracey MP MEET THE JUDGES 3

PHIL BASEY Research Fellow, TaxPayers’ Alliance

LORD BERKELEY OBE Member of the

MICHAEL BYNG Infrastructure & Procurement Specialist

LORD FRAMLINGHAM

Member of the House of Lords

JAMES ROBERTS Political Director, TaxPayers’ Alliance

CRAIG TRACEY MP Member of Parliament for North 4 CONTENTS

PAGE THE WINNERS 6 - FROM DURHAM TO 7 REOPEN THE SKIPTON-COLNE RAILWAY LINE 8 REOPEN THE BEVERLEY TO RAILWAY 9 , BLYTH & TYNE RAILWAY 10 BRITAIN’S S-BAHN NETWORK: 11 REOPEN THE KESWICK TO PENRITH RAILWAY 12 UPGRADE THE SETTLE & CARLISLE RAILWAY 13 REOPEN BLACKBURN TO HELLIFIELD 14 HIGH SPEED UK-NORTH 15 THE WHITACRE LINK 16 REOPEN STOURBRIDGE TO 17 UPGRADE THE RUGBY TO RAILWAY LINE 18 UPGRADE THE A5 TO EXPRESSWAY STANDARD 19 REOPEN THE TO PASSENGERS 20 ELECTRIFICATION 21 ELECTRIFICATION 22 IMPROVE THE FELIXSTOWE TO NUNEATON FREIGHT ROUTE 23 REOPEN THE MARCH TO WISBECH LINE TO PASSENGERS 24 A NEW STATION ON THE BURY ST EDMUNDS TO ELY LINE 25 EXTEND TO STANSTED AIRPORT & 26 LOWER THAMES CROSSING 27 BRIGHTON MAINLINE 2: SUSSEX PHASE 28 IMPROVE CONNECTIVITY TO TEMPLE MEADS 29 REBUILD CULLOMPTON STATION 30 EXETER TO PLYMOUTH VIA OKEHAMPTON 31 REOPEN THE BODMIN TO WADEBRIDGE RAILWAY LINE 32 CROSS CORNWALL RAIL LINK 33 BUILD CYCLE PATHS NEXT TO MOTORWAYS & A-ROADS

PAGE APPENDIX 34 JUDGING CRITERIA 35 COSTINGS OF WINNING ENTRIES MAP OF WINNING ENTRIES 5 6

A1 - DUAL CARRIAGEWAY FROM DURHAM TO EDINBURGH

ENTRANT: REGION:  Camaro Kimberley-Blackstar  North East & Scotland

TIMESCALE: COST:  10 to 15 years  £1.3 billion

The aim of this scheme is to operators. Upgrading the road would significantly upgrade a stretch of the help to ease congestion as cars would A1 road from single carriageway to be able to pass slower moving lorries, at least dual carriageway and ideally which in turn would greatly improve motorway specifications. safety and lower the road’s accident rate. The proposed section for upgrade is between Durham and Edinburgh and The environmental impact is likely is approximately 140 miles long. to be minimal and air quality may actually improve, as vehicles will be Improving this stretch of the A1 able to travel at more optimal speeds, would greatly improve transport links resulting in shorter journey times and between the North East of engines being used more efficiently. and Scotland, particularly for haulage 7

REOPEN THE SKIPTON-COLNE RAILWAY LINE

ENTRANT: REGION:  Derek Jennings  North East & North West Skipton & East Lancs Rail Action Partnership

TIMESCALE: COST:  4 years  £100 million

Reopening a short stretch of the Powerhouse’s vision and objectives. missing link railway line between By linking Pendle & Burnley directly to Skipton and Colne would extend a both Leeds and city centres, regional passenger service from East this reopened rail line will boost Lancashire to Leeds City Centre. This 12 employment opportunities, economic mile line could be built on the formation growth, urban regeneration and the of the currently-disused original route availability of low-cost housing. As a of 1848, which crosses the county result, it provides an impressive cost- boundary between Lancashire and benefit ratio. in the central . The project enjoys widespread support, This ‘Northern Link’ will complete a new including all eight MPs representing coast-to-coast East-West route, which constituencies along the route, several is fully compatible with both Transport important regional businesses and for the North’s (TfN) and the Northern multiple district and county councils. 8

REOPEN THE BEVERLEY TO YORK RAILWAY

ENTRANT: REGION:  Dr Adrian Morgan  North East Minsters Rail Campaign

TIMESCALE: COST:  5 to 8 years  £300 million

Hull and Beverley are linked with network, needed because the existing Market Weighton, Pocklington, rail infrastructure serving Hull lacks Stamford Bridge and York by the resilience. increasingly congested A1079. The project calls for the reinstatement of Regionally, the line will contribute the 32 mile Beverley to York ‘Minsters’ to the government’s ‘Northern rail line which was closed in 1965. Powerhouse’ initiative, improving east- west connectivity between East and This will contribute substantially . Hull to York would to the long-term economic and take just 56 minutes and Beverley to social future of the East Riding, York only 46 minutes. Existing bus improving public transport, reducing services take significantly longer. car dependency and encouraging sustainable development. It will also A 2005 feasibility study estimated be an alternative link from Hull and costs at £239 million which will likely be the East Riding to the rest of the rail nearer £300 million in 2019. 9

ASHINGTON, BLYTH & TYNE RAILWAY

ENTRANT: REGION:  Dennis Fancett  North East South East Northumberland Rail Users Group

TIMESCALE: COST:  3 to 4 years  £50 million

This proposal seeks to reintroduce as a Park & Ride facility for commuters passenger services on the fully from the outlying villages of Newbiggin- operational and maintained freight line by-the-Sea, Linton, Lynemouth and between Newcastle and Ashington, Ellington. In addition, off-peak demand with intermediate stations at would be created for visitors to the Northumberland Park (which forms part aforementioned mining museum. Blyth of the Metro), Seghill, would be served by a new station at Seaton Delaval, Newsham for Blyth, Newsham, on the outskirts of the town, Bebside and Bedlington. and the station at Bebside.

Beyond Ashington, the working freight The proposal has widespread public line continues and passes alongside support. It would serve as a very the Woodhorn Museum of Mining and useful commuter service to Newcastle Northumberland Life, a major tourist especially given new housing attraction in the region. A station developments in the area. adjacent to the museum would serve 10

BRITAIN’S S-BAHN NETWORK: LEEDS

ENTRANT: REGION:  Paul Magson  North East

TIMESCALE: COST:  5 to 6 years  £1 billion

This proposal examines how a model Leeds suffers from a lack of transport similar to the S-Bahn rapid transit infrastructure; the local transport railway system in Munich, Germany network is woefully inadequate. could be implemented in Leeds. Several hundred thousand people commute into Leeds every day but S-Bahns travel along existing rail only 3.7 per cent of them do so by tracks and then go underground for train, which are full to capacity. short distances under the city centre, using ‘supertrams’ as the rolling stock. This scheme would increase capacity on the rail network by transferring They can travel at greater speeds commuters from national trains to than either surface trams or cars local supertrams, reduce the number during busy periods meaning faster of car journeys, get commuters closer journey times. to their final destination, decrease air pollution and boost economic growth. 11

REOPEN THE KESWICK TO PENRITH RAILWAY

ENTRANT: REGION:  Cedric Martindale  North West CKP Railways PLC

TIMESCALE: COST:  3 to 4 years  £110 million

Rail passenger services ran between Sustrans into a railway path that forms Keswick and Penrith until ceasing part of the Coast to Coast National in 1972 following the recommended Cycle Route 71 but industry experts closure of the line in the Beeching advise that it can be easily rerouted. Report. The line will form part of the national Much of the trackbed and many of the rail network with services to Penrith existing structures remain in place. and further afield. The amount of congestion caused by cars is a significant issue in the Lake The scheme will reduce air pollution by District and led to the proposal to re- taking cars off the road and would help open the railway in the mid-1990s. grow the tourism industry in the area.

The section of line between Keswick and Threlkeld has been converted by 12

UPGRADE THE SETTLE & CARLISLE RAILWAY

ENTRANT: REGION:  Various  North West

TIMESCALE: COST:  5 years  £30 million

The Settle & Carlisle is a 73 mile long This will create a new route railway line in , from Leeds to Carlisle, connecting with crossing many scenic parts of the engineering works to & Dales and the North Western Railway via Dumfries and Pennines. Passenger services are Kilmarnock. operated by Northern and numbers have grown steadily in recent years. The proposal will free up capacity on the East Coast Mainline between This project seeks to make use of the York and Edinburgh. The works heavy infrastructure works carried out involve permanent way and signalling along the route for the transportation improvements, which will also of coal from Hunterston in Scotland to improve the journey time and travel the West Riding and , to opportunities from Leeds & Bradford to create a 90 miles per hour (currently Carnforth, Lancaster and Morecambe the maximum speed is 60 miles per as trains to these destinations share hour) passenger railway. part of the route. 13

REOPEN BLACKBURN TO HELLIFIELD

ENTRANT: REGION:  Various  North West

TIMESCALE: COST:  5 years  £15 million

This proposal seeks to reopen regular there would be much greater East- passenger services (which ceased West connectivity for commuters and in 1962) on the existing line from increase the sphere of influence for the Blackburn to Hellifield. area’s major cities.

The route was later used for freight The estimated construction time is transport and existing track would 5 years but industry experts believe need “slewing” to accommodate it could be completed in as little as 3 intercity trains capable of 90 miles per years. Surprisingly, the proposal was hour. excluded from the plans despite the significant The reopening of the line would economic benefits it would provide allow better access from , for a relatively small investment of £15 Liverpool and West Lancashire to million. the Settle & Carlisle line. In essence, 14

HIGH SPEED UK-NORTH

ENTRANT: REGION:  Quentin Macdonald  North East & North West High Speed UK

TIMESCALE: COST:  10 to 15 years  £18.1 billion

Radical modernisation of the Newcastle. Transpennine rail network is essential to meet the journey times specified The proposal’s headline features are: by Transport for the North (TfN) and achieve the ambitions of the Northern • reopening the Woodhead Tunnels Powerhouse. as part of a new east-west high speed spine railway High Speed UK-North (HSUK-N) offers • new stations in and a much cheaper design giving far more Bradford benefits than current proposals. • a roll-on/roll-off M1 to M60 lorry shuttle to relieve the overcrowded The geographic scope of TfN’s proposed A628 rail network and of HSUK-N is the rail network bounded west to east by HSUK is a fully mapped design with Liverpool and Hull and south to north detailed plans and specifications by Manchester Airport / Sheffield and available. 15

THE WHITACRE LINK

ENTRANT: REGION:  Various  Midlands

TIMESCALE: COST:  5 to 8 years  £400 million

Reopening the dismantled railway corridor would create opportunities link between Whitacre Junction that will greatly benefit the economic and Hampton-in-Arden will provide activity and employment opportunities additional capacity via alternative of the surrounding region - principally routes between and Borough, Coventry City, North Birmingham, as well as access to the Warwickshire, Warwick (including National Exhibition Centre (NEC) and and ), Birmingham Airport from the West Nuneaton and Bedworth. Midlands, , and , without changing at Birmingham Birmingham Airport is set to play an New Street. increasing role as the Midlands’ premier international gateway and driver for An intermodal transport hub accessing economic prosperity. This proposal Birmingham Airport, NEC, the A45 would better spread those benefits and the M42/Blythe Valley business around the region. 16

REOPEN STOURBRIDGE TO LICHFIELD

ENTRANT: REGION:  Various 

TIMESCALE: COST:  5 to 10 years  £120 million

The South Staffordshire railway is a used as the rolling stock. partly used, partly disused line and this proposal seeks to reopen the The mothballed route is covered in current mothballed section that links undergrowth which could easily be Stourbridge to Lichfield. This is a very cleared and new track laid on the much needed transport link that existing bed. Completion time is would allow rail users to travel across estimated at around 5-10 years but the West Midlands far more easily and many advocates of the proposal and quickly. It will also have the added rail experts believe 5 years is very benefit of reducing the burden on probable. Birmingham New Street and Snow Hill stations. Total cost of the project is estimated at £120 million, which would include The current West Midlands Railway construction of three new stations at diesel-electric fleet of trains would be Dudley, Wednesbury and Darlaston. 17

UPGRADE THE RUGBY TO BIRMINGHAM RAILWAY LINE

ENTRANT: REGION:  Various  West Midlands

TIMESCALE: COST:  5 to 15 years  £1.5 billion

This proposal involves 4-tracking the Part of this would involve upgrading electrified railway between Rugby, the 8 suburban stations along the line. Coventry and Birmingham to provide additional capacity to the ‘Midlands The enhanced railway would also Engine’. benefit from new chords at Adderley Park Station, to allow access from the The concept has been about for south to both Birmingham New Street almost 80 years and the land remains and Snow Hill stations. in the ownership of , making it a uniquely well integrated The proposal is supported by members and easily initiated project. As a major from local authorities including scheme in itself, it is possible with or Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, without HS2 Phase 1, providing much Warwickshire and . demanded additional passenger and freight capacity in the West Midlands. 18

UPGRADE THE A5 TO EXPRESSWAY STANDARD

ENTRANT: REGION:  Bill Cullen  Midlands A5 Partnership

TIMESCALE: COST:  3 to 5 years  £500 million

The current standard of the A5, which M6 and M1, with priority being given varies from dual two-lane to single to key sections between M42 and M1 carriageway, means that the route is which currently experience significant not currently fulfilling its potential as peak hour congestion and are an important national long distance programmed to support significant route, linking the Home Counties with growth over the next 15 years. the Midlands and North Wales. The economic prosperity of the Congestion on the A5 is becoming Midlands relies heavily on the a significant problem and may act performance of this strategic road as a restriction to growth along the network, given its central location corridor. and its connectivity with routes such as the M1, M5, M6, M40, A14, A46. This The A5 could be upgraded to proposal could bring substantial ‘Expressway Standard’ between the economic benefits. 19

REOPEN THE SUTTON PARK LINE TO PASSENGERS

ENTRANT: REGION:  Various  West Midlands

TIMESCALE: COST:  5 years  £100 million

The Sutton Park Line is a freight-only with a completion line that carried passenger services timescale of 5 years. from 1879 to 1965. The proposal recommends reopening the line The reinstated railway would allow to passengers between Ryecroft public transport, by rail, for passengers Junction, and . wishing to cross the West Midlands without the need to go into the centre West Midlands Railway diesel electric of Birmingham via New Street or Snow fleet of trains would be used as the Hill Stations. rolling stock. However, using the junctions at The cost of this project is Water Orton, the reinstated line approximately £100 million, including would provide additional capacity for providing new stations at and passengers travelling from north east Walmley and a further new station in Birmingham to the City Centre. 20

CHILTERN MAIN LINE ELECTRIFICATION

ENTRANT: REGION:  Kelvin Hopkins MP  South East & Midlands

TIMESCALE: COST:  3 to 5 years  £1 billion

The Chiltern Main Line runs from stock would reduce air pollution. Marylebone to Moor Street and Snow Hill stations in Birmingham. The project is shovel ready, no additional land needs to be purchased It is a two track line (although there and there is the added benefit that it is space for four) and is the only main connects to phase one of East West line in Great Britain that doesn’t have Rail. any electrification. Industry experts estimate a This proposal recommends full construction time of 3 to 5 years at a electrification of the line to reduce cost of £1 billion. It should be noted journey times by using high the Chiltern Line combined with the acceleration electric multiple units provides ample (EMUs). Consequently use of electric capacity from London to Birmingham. rather than the current diesel rolling 21

MIDLAND MAIN LINE ELECTRIFICATION

ENTRANT: REGION:  Timothy Stockton  South East, Midlands and North East

TIMESCALE: COST:  5 years  £5 billion

Electrification of the existing Midland It is considered likely that if Mainline rail route between London management of the project is St Pancras and Leeds, via , contracted out to the private sector, , Leicester, Derby/Nottingham it could be delivered at a far lower and Sheffield would be an important cost than Network Rail estimates. alternative to HS2, and far cheaper. By improving the existing route, the environmental harm and disruption of This route is potentially far more HS2 would be avoided. useful than phase 2b of HS2, as it links to the existing HS1 and services to Replacing the current diesel-powered mainland Europe. rolling stock of the would also further reduce atmospheric It would also provide modern rail pollution. This project could also be links between some of the UK’s major delivered significantly quicker than manufacturing centres. HS2. 22

IMPROVE THE FELIXSTOWE TO NUNEATON FREIGHT ROUTE

ENTRANT: REGION:  Andrew Bodman  East Anglia & Midlands

TIMESCALE: COST:  5 to 8 years  £1.5 billion

Advancing improvements to the at Haughley Junction, and Felixstowe to Nuneaton (F2N) route will Ely to take a great deal of strain off boost cross-country trains, especially the existing rail network, increasing freight services from Felixstowe to the passenger capacity from Ipswich and North West, Midlands and Yorkshire. Cambridge to London Liverpool Street. Half of the freight trains travelling Freight capacity will also be increased, to those three destinations take an with each train taking 76 HGVs off East unnecessarily long route, clogging up Anglia’s roads as well as the M6 and M1. the Line and West Coast Mainline in the process. Improvements As it will make use of existing track and to F2N will release much needed train routes, there is limited environmental paths on those lines, Greater Anglia disturbance. The increase in rail and The , thereby passenger capacity will potentially improving passenger services. move traffic off the East Anglia road network, with further environmental This would involve enhancements benefits. 23

REOPEN THE MARCH TO WISBECH LINE TO PASSENGERS

ENTRANT: REGION:  Rowland Potter  East Anglia & Cambridge Combined Authority

TIMESCALE: COST:  4 to 5 years  £110 million

First opened in 1862, the Bramley Class 230s or the Parry People Movers Line linked March and Wisbech in Class 139s. . The railway line was closed to passengers in 1968 and freight A large residential development of services in 2000. 10,000 to 12,000 homes are planned for Wisbech to create a ‘garden town’ and This proposal seeks to reopen the line good transport links will be essential to passengers to provide more public to support the area’s local and wider transport from Wisbech to Cambridge economies. and Peterborough via March. Current costs of the project are £110 The line is currently mothballed,but million and a timescale of 4 to 5 years much of the track and trackbed remains is achievable. The scheme is actively in place. A number of options for rolling supported by the MP for North East stock are available, including VivaRail Cambridgeshire, Stephen Barclay. 24

A NEW STATION ON THE BURY ST EDMUNDS TO ELY LINE

ENTRANT: REGION:  Rowland Potter  East Anglia Peterborough & Cambridge Combined Authority

TIMESCALE: COST:  3 to 5 years  £40 million

The Peterborough & Cambridge The proposal is based on the use Combined Authority wish to provide of the current Greater Anglia a new passenger station at Soham on franchise trains between Ipswich the line between Bury St Edmunds and Peterborough and cost will be and Ely. The proposal would also approximately £40 million, including like to consider the reinstatement the cost of doubling the line between of the dismantled ‘west curve’ at Soham Station and Ely Dock Junction. Junction, north of Newmarket, to provide new access Timescale for project completion to Cambridge. The new station is set at 5 years, however further allows further public transport from analysis suggests this is generous and Soham and surrounding areas, to could be completed in as little as 2-3 Bury St Edmunds, Ely, Cambridge and years. The project would create much Peterborough via March. need economic regeneration for the area. 25

EXTEND CROSSRAIL TO STANSTED AIRPORT & CAMBRIDGE

ENTRANT: REGION:  Dan Lewis  East Anglia Economic Policy Centre

TIMESCALE: COST:  4 years  £4 billion

Extending Crossrail to Stansted It is important that the train does would draw excess demand away not end at Stansted; terminus stops from Heathrow and Gatwick and bring at airports tend to lead to monopoly Stansted within less than 30 minutes rents, as exists with the Heathrow from . Express.

At the eastern end of Crossrail it It should continue to Cambridge, does not connect to any other major which has poor transport connections transport hubs. The “Achilles’ heel” of to London. Starting at Stratford, Stansted Airport is that it takes too Crossrail trains running at up to long to travel to and from London. 100mph would transform demand, Stansted tends to offer cheaper flights not just for Stansted, but also greatly and there is potential demand and improve connectivity for the wider space for a second runway. Cambridge area. 26

LOWER THAMES CROSSING

ENTRANT: REGION:  David Burch  South East Essex Chambers of Commerce

TIMESCALE: COST:  6 years  £6.8 billion

A new route of approximately 15 miles, Journey times along parts of the A127 including a tunnel under the River and M20 would be greatly improved as Thames, would connect the M2 near well as cutting congestion on approach Rochester, Kent and the M25 in Essex roads to the Dartford Crossing between North and South Ockendon. (including parts of the M25, A13 and A2). The new road would be three lanes in both directions and improvements Capacity across the Thames would would be made to the M25, A2 and A13 increase from four lanes to seven lanes where the crossing connects to these each way and would increase regional roads. economic growth by billions of pounds. The government acknowledged this Two 2.5 mile tunnels would be and has named the Lower Thames constructed for southbound and Crossing as one of its top 40 priority northbound traffic and a free-flow projects in its National Infrastructure charging system implemented, similar Plan. to the system at the Dartford Crossing. 27

BRIGHTON MAINLINE 2: SUSSEX PHASE

ENTRANT: REGION:  BML2 Project Group  South East

TIMESCALE: COST:  8 to 10 years  £500 million

The primary aim of this project is home of Brighton & Hove Albion to greatly improve and enlarge the Football Club (Amex stadium) and the South East’s rail network. Restoration University of Sussex, on a main line of Sussex’s second-most important to London and make these important main line requires rebuilding the 7 mile and expanding destinations more ‘missing link’ between Uckfield and accessible from Sussex, Surrey, Kent, Lewes to provide a new direct route London and East Anglia. from Eastbourne, Seaford & Newhaven to London via Uckfield. The value of this project is approximately £500 million, In addition, the construction of including the cost of replacing the Ashcombe tunnel beneath the South dismantled sections. Built in sections, Downs would be built to deliver a fast, construction time is estimated to be direct link into the City of Brighton between 8 and 10 years. & Hove. This would put Falmer, the 28

IMPROVE CONNECTIVITY TO BRISTOL TEMPLE MEADS

ENTRANT: REGION:  James Willcock  South West North Somerset District Council

TIMESCALE: COST:  5 years  £125 million

Bristol is one of the worst served area. It makes use of the diesel- cities by rail and reinstating the electric Class 165 trains, surplus to dismantled section of the railway the requirements of Great Western between Portbury Dock Junction and Railway after the electrification of the Portishead, together with reopening . to passengers of the line between Parsons Street Junction and Portbury The cost of the project has been Dock Junction, would greatly improve put as high as £125 million, but £95 the area’s transport connectivity. million is more likely and it can be built in 5 years. It connects to Temple Forming part of the ‘Metrowest’ Meads, greatly improving journeys for project, it has been promoted by commuters and reducing the number all of the local authorities and the of car journeys between Portishead Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and Bristol. in the Bristol and North Somerset 29

REBUILD CULLOMPTON STATION

ENTRANT: REGION:  Eric Downer  South West

TIMESCALE: COST:  5 years  £15 million

Situated in mid-Devon just off junction The site of the old railway station is 28 of the , Cullompton now occupied by Cullompton Services is a town that from 1844 to 1964 was but land is allocated for a new, modern served by a passenger rail service on station adjacent to the motorway. the Great Western main line. The town is congested with traffic as many people are forced to drive to A significant development of work in nearby towns and cities. A new over 2,000 homes to the east of station would reduce the number of Cullompton will be built by 2033 and journeys by car, both locally and on the building a new railway station would motorway network. provide residents with a new way to commute to jobs in nearby Exeter, This is a very simple but effective Taunton and potentially as far as project that integrates almost Bristol. seamlessly with the existing rail network. 30

EXETER TO PLYMOUTH VIA OKEHAMPTON

ENTRANT: REGION:  Nigel Blacker  South West Cornwall Council / Peninsula Rail Task Force

TIMESCALE: COST:  5 to 8 years  £500 million

This proposal seeks to alleviate and Meldon Quarry problems caused by recent closures • upgrading of the section between of the Great Western mainline in and Bere Alston and Plymouth around Dawlish. It also has the added benefit of providing excellent railway Rolling stock will consist diesel electric connectivity for Okehampton and trains, surplus to the requirements Tavistock, which are major areas of of the Great West Railway after the housing developments. electrification of Great Western Mainline. It has the support of Devon The project consists of: Council and Cornwall Council and district councils affected. When • reinstating the dismantled section completed, it will form part of an of the railway between Meldon alternative route between Devon and Quarry and Bere Alston Cornwall, providing an alternative to • reopening to passengers of the line the existing route between Exeter and between Coleford Junction (Exeter) Plymouth via Dawlish. 31

REOPEN THE BODMIN TO WADEBRIDGE RAILWAY LINE

ENTRANT: REGION:  Paul Foster  South West Bodmin & Wenford Railway / Cornwall Council

TIMESCALE: COST:  3 to 5 years  £25 million

The Bodmin and Wadebridge Railway public. This would run alongside the was the first steam-powered railway line Camel Estuary. It is intended to create in the UK, but closed in 1983. Much of a community railway project, serving the route now forms part of the ‘Camel North Cornwall, to connect Bodmin and Trail’, a cycle and footpath from Padstow Wadebridge with the Great Western to Wenford Bridge, via Wadebridge and Main Line. The line could make use of Bodmin. It is maintained and managed alternative diesel-electric traction by Cornwall Council. trains, based on conversions of ex- passenger stock. These proposals involve the reinstatement of the dismantled This forms part of a project devised by section of the railway between Boscarne the Bodmin & Wenford heritage railway Junction and Wadebridge, together and Cornwall Council, with the support with reopening of the line between of the Peninsula Rail Task Force. It also Boscarne Junction, Bodmin General and has the potential to extend further Bodmin Parkway Stations to the general along the trail, to Padstow. 32

CROSS CORNWALL RAIL LINK

ENTRANT: REGION:  Nigel Blackler  South West Cornwall Council / Peninsula Rail Task Force

TIMESCALE: COST:  3 to 5 years  £125 million

This proposal combines three projects construction work is required. With to form the Cross Cornwall Rail Link: large developments of new houses planned near St Austell and Newquay, 1. Reinstatement of the dismantled this scheme would greatly improve section of the railway between St connectivity between the east and Dennis Junction and Parkandillack. west coasts of Cornwall. 2. Upgrading of the route to Burngullow Junction including one The new link will make makes use of new station at the Blackpool Dryers alternative diesel electric traction, (near St Austell). such as the Vivarail Class 230s. Based 3. Improvement to stations between on Network Rail projections, total St Austell, Truro and Falmouth. cost is estimated at £125 million for all three projects combined but industry The track bed is already in place experts agree that they could be between St Dennis Junction delivered for £50 million and Parkandillack so minimal 33

BUILD CYCLE PATHS NEXT TO MOTORWAYS & A-ROADS

ENTRANT: REGION:  David Hicks  Nationwide

TIMESCALE: COST:  10 years  £1.82 billion

This proposal seeks to build cycle possible. Cycle paths can provide paths alongside the 2,300 miles of excellent leisure activities as well as motorway network and 5,300 miles of helping commuters get from villages managed A-roads in to towns to cities more easily by Great Britain. bicycle.

Building a total of 7,600 miles of new Cycling investment tends to have cycle paths along these primary routes an excellent benefit-cost ratio of would give a safe and comprehensive anywhere from 3 to 14. A larger cycling network of urban and rural cycle paths. network would help to encourage many people to take up a more active Transport infrastructure is not just lifestyle whilst helping to reduce the about road, rail and air connectivity. number of car, bus and train journeys, It is important that as many viable thus reducing air pollution. options are open to the public as 34 JUDGING CRITERIA

The projects put forward in the competition were judged on a variety of criteria. The overarching principle was to determine which projects represented the best use of taxpayers’ money in improving the transport infrastructure.

Given the variety of entries received and the differing level of detail provided, the application of the criteria below was largely based on the practical assessment of the judges, who applied their expertise to an analysis of each project.

Where a conflict of interest existed on a specific entry, the judge in question was excused from contributing to scoring.

Specific consideration was given to the:

1. Contribution to economic development in the region it is located

2. Support from the public

3. Cost benefit evaluation

4. Positive environmental impact

5. Level of integration with existing transport infrastructure

6. Timescale to commence and complete the project

The judging panel decided that if HS2 was scrapped, approximately £6 billion would be paid in contract cancellation penalties; thus leaving £50 billion from the current HS2 budget of £56 billion.

Using the total cost estimates, including any revisions by the judges, a list of worthwhile projects totalling £50 billion or less was devised. These are considered the winners of The Great British Transport Competition. COSTINGS OF WINNING ENTRIES 35

PROJECT £ A1 - DUAL CARRIAGEWAY FROM DURHAM TO EDINBURGH 1,300,000,000 REOPEN THE SKIPTON-COLNE RAILWAY LINE 100,000,000 REOPEN THE BEVERLEY TO YORK RAILWAY 300,000,000 ASHINGTON, BLYTH & TYNE RAILWAY 50,000,000 BRITAIN’S S-BAHN NETWORK: LEEDS 1,000,000,000 REOPEN THE KESWICK TO PENRITH RAILWAY 110,000,000 UPGRADE THE SETTLE & CARLISLE RAILWAY 30,000,000 REOPEN BLACKBURN TO HELLIFIELD 15,000,000 HIGH SPEED UK-NORTH 18,100,000,000 THE WHITACRE LINK 400,000,000 REOPEN STOURBRIDGE TO LICHFIELD 120,000,000 UPGRADE THE RUGBY TO BIRMINGHAM RAILWAY LINE 1,500,000,000 UPGRADE THE A5 TO EXPRESSWAY STANDARD 500,000,000 REOPEN THE SUTTON PARK LINE TO PASSENGERS 100,000,000 CHILTERN MAIN LINE ELECTRIFICATION 1,000,000,000 MIDLAND MAIN LINE ELECTRIFICATION 5,000,000,000 IMPROVE THE FELIXSTOWE TO NUNEATON FREIGHT ROUTE 1,500,000,000 REOPEN THE MARCH TO WISBECH LINE TO PASSENGERS 110,000,000 A NEW STATION ON THE BURY ST EDMUNDS TO ELY LINE 40,000,000 EXTEND CROSSRAIL TO STANSTED AIRPORT & CAMBRIDGE 4,000,000,000 LOWER THAMES CROSSING 6,800,000,000 BRIGHTON MAINLINE 2: SUSSEX PHASE 500,000,000 IMPROVE CONNECTIVITY TO BRISTOL TEMPLE MEADS 125,000,000 REBUILD CULLOMPTON STATION 15,000,000 EXETER TO PLYMOUTH VIA OKEHAMPTON 500,000,000 REOPEN THE BODMIN TO WADEBRIDGE RAILWAY LINE 25,000,000 CROSS CORNWALL RAIL LINK 125,000,000 BUILD CYCLE PATHS NEXT TO MOTORWAYS & A-ROADS 1,820,000,000 TOTAL: £45,185,000,000 REMAINING*: £4,815,000,000

* A total of £50 billion was set as the maximum cost of all winning entries combined. The total cost of all winning entries was £45,185,000,000 leaving £4,815,000,000 unspent.  taxpayersalliance.com

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