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Section 4 The priorities – short term

The Short term priorities working closely with Government and other administration Skill shortages and structural pressures set stakeholders. limits on what can be achieved in the next of Railtrack A key area, which is being tackled urgently, few years. Nevertheless, improvements can provides an is the creation of a better overall industry and must be delivered. This section planning framework. To ensure the opportunity describes these improvements, which will maximum output from a given level of to secure a provide a stable foundation on which to input, all the costs, benefits and risks of any more robust build the medium term priorities described rail investment ought to be analysed in one in the next section. and single framework. The SRA and Rail financeable The SRA’s focus will be on: Regulator have already taken steps to put industry • developing the new industry structure, this analytical process in place and it will be structure. including the transitional arrangements; developed in greater detail over the coming • delivering benefits already committed, weeks and months. including safety programmes; The SRA is also developing, jointly with • improving performance back to pre- Government, the procurement framework Hatfield levels and beyond; for new enhancement projects. This includes • developing the major upgrade projects looking at all stages of enhancement from needed to deliver the 10 Year Plan targets; prioritisation and initiation through • support for freight; development and implementation to • the refranchising programme; operation and maintenance – the objective • implementation of national programmes being to increase confidence that the of improvements throughout the network: investment will secure the desired passenger an expanded Rail Passenger Partnership and freight benefits in a cost-effective programme, the Incremental Output manner. Statement (IOS) schemes, small scale freight schemes and “Access for All”, a The new framework will introduce new risk- major initiative to improve accessibility; taking project partners through Special • tackling skills shortages and supporting Purpose Vehicles (SPVs). In essence, this innovation; means creating companies to undertake the • reviewing policy options, for example on design, building and finance of fares. enhancement projects. Work on this procurement framework is addressing the The following sections set out the SRA’s problems described in Section 2 “Delivering approach on each of these areas in turn. major infrastructure projects”.

Developing the new industry To persuade the capital markets to form a structure positive judgement about the new The administration of Railtrack provides an framework, and to attract investment in opportunity to secure a more robust and long term capacity and growth, the SRA and financeable industry structure. The SRA is Government will provide further clarity and at the heart of this development process, confidence over future work load, work type 04.sum.priorities.qxd 4/1/02 10:40 am Page 27

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and its timing, building on the project slam doors and improving Opening up priorities identified in this Plan. crashworthiness, and accessibility by enhancements ending the need for wheelchair users to However, the framework is not just a route of the network ride in the Guard’s van; to obtain extra funds. Opening up to third parties • delivery of other new coaches, particularly enhancements of the network to third where there have been delays arising from will provide parties has other objectives that will provide the industry’s acceptance process. All better value for improved value for money: strengthening industry parties have a major role to play money. project management, improving the in ensuring that the acceptance process is allocation of risk and, by introducing managed effectively and that the new competition, bringing greater efficiency trains are, right from the start, at least as (including lower whole life costs), reliable as those that they replace. For innovation and ingenuity in the electrically powered trains this has seldom development of the network. been the case and this remains a An important example of this new approach significant issue going forward, to the delivery of major enhancement particularly for performance (see Section projects is the East Line extension, 4 “Improving performance”); which is planned to be delivered through a • completion of TPWS, which is designed design, build, finance and maintain to reduce the risk arising from Signals arrangement. The SRA, in collaboration Passed at Danger (SPADs). TPWS is with Tf L, and the being installed at around 11,000 signals concessionaire, aims to deliver the new throughout the network and legislation infrastructure in 2006. requires completion by the end of 2003; • major infrastructure and rolling stock Delivering investment already investments on the committed and CrossCountry routes are in progress. There are major ongoing investment There will be significant journey time commitments that will be delivered in the reductions on the West Coast, and short term, producing benefits across the frequencies on CrossCountry services will country. They include: be doubled, benefiting major regional • some 1,700 new coaches to be delivered centres such as Birmingham, Liverpool, by 2004, to replace 30 year old Mark 1 Derby, Bristol and Plymouth. The SRA is slam-door stock and cater for growth. The committed to improving these routes, even coaches will be introduced on the South though difficulties have been experienced to Central, and South date with rising costs. The SRA is involved West Trains franchises. At the same time, in a strategic review of the outputs of the improvements to the third rail power West Coast project, which is likely to lead supply and depot provision, and some to some scaling back from the full upgrade changes to platform lengths and clearances originally agreed in 1997; will be made. Replacement of the old • completion of the Channel Tunnel Rail trains will improve safety by eliminating Link, relieving overcrowding on parts of 04.sum.priorities.qxd 4/1/02 10:40 am Page 28

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Section 4 The priorities – short term continued

The SRA will Kent’s congested rail network and the SRA and other parties (which might establish a bringing Paris and Brussels 30 minutes include Railtrack, TOCs, freight operators new Rail closer to London; and rolling stock leasing companies). The Performance • commitment to opening new passenger Fund can be used to provide increased lines and stations, through RPP projects incentives for TOCs for whom there is no Fund to help such as Edinburgh Crossrail and the Vale immediate prospect of a new franchise improve of Glamorgan Line. agreement. Over time the Fund is likely to performance be deployed to secure small scale in the short Improving performance enhancements to the network to provide term. Section 2 “The need for better performance” added resilience at the same time as major highlighted the problem of poor performance. renewal projects, particularly signalling The SRA is working with Railtrack and train schemes, are implemented. operators to get performance back to its • extending the SRA’s benchmarking and previous 1999 peak and then improve it capability reviews: the SRA already beyond that. Actions include: monitors TOCs through franchise • review of incentive and compensation contracts, but it proposes, in conjunction regimes: the incentive regimes have been with ATOC, to extend the SRA’s criticised for encouraging a benchmarking and capability review confrontational approach between processes into specific new areas such as industry parties and creating perverse rolling stock reliability and traincrew incentives. The SRA and the Association management. This will help identify of Train Operating Companies agree that examples of good practice that can be incentives provide an important spread to other TOCs. It will also provide contribution to performance ‘early warning’ of emerging problems, so management, but that the regimes must that corrective action can be taken. be reviewed and, where appropriate, • easing the introduction of new rolling better arrangements must be put in place. stock: the SRA has already become In addition, as franchises are replaced, or increasingly involved in working with earlier if the opportunity arises, the SRA TOCs, manufacturers and Railtrack on the intends to introduce increased incentives effective management of the introduction to encourage improved performance. of new trains. This will probably be the • establishing a new Rail Performance greatest single challenge to the industry’s Fund: there is a risk that some current operational performance over the next three initiatives to improve performance may years, particularly in the South East of stall while Railtrack is in administration. England, as a result of Mark 1 replacement. The SRA will establish a new Rail The SRA believes that the introduction of Performance Fund to help improve new fleets will be much smoother in the performance in the short term, and future if the case can be made for the address that risk. One use of the Fund construction of a national test track (see will be to provide co-funding of Section 4 “Tackling skills shortages and appropriate performance initiatives between supporting innovation”). 04.sum.priorities.qxd 4/1/02 10:40 am Page 29

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• reviewing Passenger Service Scotland) will contribute to capital The SRA will Requirements (PSRs): PSRs set out the projects; continue to minimum services operators must provide. • mechanisms will be developed to provide promote the They are being reviewed to establish funding for rail freight interchanges where development whether changes could deliver a more the market is unable to take all the risk. robust timetable and extra capacity. The In addition, the SRA will work with of innovative SRA is seeking to identify priorities for planning authorities to enable freight early action. development of interchanges at technologies • measuring and improving customer appropriate locations and with the right and facilities. satisfaction: the SRA will continue to facilities; expand the use of the National Passenger • the SRA will continue to promote the Survey (NPS) and other measures of development of innovative freight service quality and customer satisfaction. technologies and facilities through a Good practice in the delivery of customer repeat of the successful “Innovation in requirements will be identified and Rail-based Logistics” competition. encouraged amongst other TOCs. This will also inform the contractual The refranchising programme requirements of new and extended The priorities for the SRA on refranchising franchises, to ensure that service quality is are to: improved over time. In specific cases the • progress the first three replacements; SRA will fund or co-fund the • continue simplifying the franchise map; development of new network-wide • refranchise the short term franchises in initiatives, a current example being real order to increase stability in the industry; time train running information systems. • implement new enhanceable franchises of up to fifteen years’ duration. Support for freight In the short term, investment in freight will The first three replacements continue to support the growth in both The Chiltern, South Central and South traditional and intermodal markets and will West Trains replacement franchises combine begin to influence newer markets. The SRA significant rolling stock and infrastructure will be involved in the following schemes: investment with measures to improve • a ‘Company Neutral Revenue Support’ integration between modes of transport. scheme will be introduced in 2002, They are key parts of the SRA’s plan for initially directed at the intermodal and improvement, and the SRA, the franchisees ‘less than trainload’ markets. Under this and Railtrack are working closely together to scheme the grant will be allocated to key ensure that they are delivered as rapidly as rail freight flows, rather than directed at possible. These negotiations have the goal of specific operators; agreeing early delivery of key enhancements • a relaunched Freight Facilities Grant whilst permitting the full replacement deal scheme, administered by the SRA (and by to be signed later. the Scottish Executive for schemes within 04.sum.priorities.qxd 4/1/02 10:40 am Page 30

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Section 4 The priorities – short term continued

The SRA has Amongst the proposals in the South Central • work on a new Northern franchise, continued to and replacements are combining the two existing large review service improvements South of the Thames – franchises in the North and North West. franchise a first step in the South London Metro The franchise will feature local business concept proposed by the Mayor and local units to improve service delivery in PTE boundaries authorities. areas. Expressions of interest have been so that they invited, and it is expected that a franchisee better align Simplifying the franchise map will be selected by the end of the year; with market Since its formation, the SRA has continued • the existing franchise will be needs and to review franchise boundaries so that they enlarged to include the Great Northern local better align with market needs and local and some services South of the Thames. A stakeholder priorities. It proposes to simplify key aim is to ensure there is a strong stakeholder the franchise structure by bringing services operator in place throughout the time priorities. at key London termini under single control that the Thameslink 2000 project is being wherever possible. It launched a consultation constructed, and thereafter. Refranchising on this proposal last year; this approach will will resume as soon as possible, reflecting bring passenger benefits, while also reducing the outcomes of the Transport and Works operational conflicts at congested parts of inquiry and the conclusions of the the network. SRA-Railtrack procurement review that was announced in April 2001. There is a Measures taken or already planned include: possibility of a two year extension to the • creation of the initial phase of a new existing franchise; Wales & Borders franchise, aligned with • letting of the new Greater Anglia devolved Government, in October 2001. franchise, combining together the existing The bidding process has started and the Anglia, Great Eastern and West Anglia commencement of the new franchise is services, will begin in late 2002 and will targeted for early 2003; bring together all train operations into • the new Wessex franchise, covering parts London’s busy of the West of England and the South under one TOC, delivering customer and West, was also formed in October 2001. operational benefits; In the context of simplifying the franchise • during 2002 consideration will be given structure, the SRA will consider the best to the potential benefits of combining the way forward for this franchise and will First Great Western and Thames Trains make an announcement later this year; franchises to provide improved market • a new TransPennine franchise, which will focus and realise operational bring improved focus to this key improvements at Paddington; interurban market, is being let and will • consideration will also be given to a provide better links between Manchester possible future union of County Airport, Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield, services with the West Coast franchise, Newcastle and other key centres in the and to the wider applicability of the North and North West; Greater Anglia model. 04.sum.priorities.qxd 4/1/02 10:40 am Page 31

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• the refranchising of the Scottish franchise limits or other aspects of the price and will be carried out by the SRA, acting as a quality of services offered. procurement agent to the Executive; the On top of this, the SRA will negotiate a SRA is currently awaiting Directions and menu of possible enhancement options, Guidance from the Scottish Executive, with an emphasis on short term benefits for reflecting the results of its recent passengers, including, for example, better consultation on priorities for the information provision. Bidders will cost development of Scotland’s railways. each item of the menu and options will be taken forward as resources permit, allowing Replacing the remaining short term the overall improvement programme to franchises develop over time. The same mechanism A deal has already been reached to extend could be used to allow larger scale the franchise by two investment projects to be developed and years, in return for a package of measures built as resources permit. including new rolling stock and station improvements. The SRA’s goal is to put as The enhanceable franchises will normally be many of the remaining short term franchises let on the basis of a fifteen year term, split as possible onto a more stable footing, into three periods of broadly five years each. through long term franchises where this is Each TOC will be set challenging but the most appropriate way forward. A achievable performance targets. Progress will priority is to refranchise those TOCs be reviewed at the end of each of these currently operating on ‘cost plus’ contracts, periods, and failure to meet targets could in order to deliver better service as well as result in termination of the franchise. value for money. Consultation on the enhanceable franchise The enhanceable franchise concept is currently under way. To provide flexibility in the future, which is Project development essential given the resource and financing constraints that affect the industry, the SRA The SRA has allocated funds to help will use an enhanceable franchise agreement develop the medium term projects described for future replacements. Franchises will, in in Section 5 “Additional projects to meet the the first instance, be re-let assuming broadly 10 Year Plan” and for further feasibility a continuation of existing services, but studies for projects identified in Section 5 taking account of new statutory and safety “Schemes for further development”. requirements. Prospective franchisees will Through the arrangements put in place since also be asked for proposals for further the Statement of Principles 7 was agreed with improvements to services which could be Railtrack, under which the cost of most made through greater flexibility but without project development is shared between the increasing overall franchise support. This SRA and Railtrack, a significant programme 7 could require consultation with Statement of Principles of development work has been set up. The agreed between the stakeholders. These might include changes SRA’s contribution to this was around £30m Government and Railtrack, to PSRs, fares regulation, overcrowding 2 April 2001 04.sum.priorities.qxd 4/1/02 10:40 am Page 32

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Section 4 The priorities – short term continued

in 2001, and will increase rapidly this year as Improvements throughout the development gathers pace. country Major infrastructure projects help remove The SRA expects that its role in funding capacity constraints on the network and development work for particular projects improve quality. Inevitably, they concentrate will become increasingly important. In view investment on certain parts of the network of the problems that the industry has faced where the biggest improvements can be over the past year or so, there is increasing made. They can also take many years to evidence that the private sector faces a implement. It is essential that these projects number of difficulties in supporting the should be complemented by local risks involved in the early stages of the improvements throughout the network project development process. The initial focusing on short term delivery. Four stages of engineering development, railway programmes have been put in place to timetable planning and implementation achieve this goal. planning are very important in the development of any project. They help de- Incremental Output Statements risk the project by identifying a buildable, This programme was designed by the SRA deliverable programme of works that can be following detailed consultation with practicably implemented whilst the railway stakeholders and the industry and includes: remains operational. Yet, where there is • track and signalling schemes at over 100 significant uncertainty about whether a locations to provide improved capacity, project can proceed or adequate interfaces journey times or reliability; with day-to-day train operations can be • modern facilities at 1,000 stations, with developed, the private sector can sometimes improvements such as waiting rooms, take an overly cautious view. toilets, security and information systems. Accordingly, the SRA’s Plan assumes that the The definition and funding of the schemes public sector will need to support much of is well advanced, and discussions are in hand the early stages of certain projects through with Railtrack and the Administrators to capital grants to Railtrack, train operators or ensure they are taken forward. The engineering project managers. The SRA will programme is designed to be fully also continue to develop proposals for this completed in 2007, at a capital cost of work to be taken forward by companies or around £700m. consortia that may be able to assume many of the risks involved. As the investment Rail Passenger Partnership programme proceeds and investor The Rail Passenger Partnership (RPP) confidence grows, the role of these kinds of programme provides funding to assist new companies is expected to increase. or enhanced rail services and facilities which contribute to the Government’s wider objectives but which typically are not able to earn commercial returns. The programme is 04.sum.priorities.qxd 4/1/02 10:40 am Page 33

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driven by proposals from local stakeholders • all new coaches will be fully accessible, and hence reflects genuine local requirements; complying with the Rail Vehicle it has proved to be a particularly effective Accessibility Regulations; way of stimulating improved integration • work carried out under the IOS station with other forms of public transport. improvement programme will be Around £45m has already been approved for compliant with the new SRA Code of 41 schemes, with a further 35 schemes Practice on accessibility standards; currently being assessed. New stations, new • the SRA will make available additional passenger lines, new train services, extended funding to ensure TOCs are resourced, car parks, improved station facilities, cycle where necessary, to implement the parking and passenger information systems requirements of the Disability have been provided. Discrimination Act (DDA) on access to stations. This funding will be available The RPP budget originally agreed by throughout the time needed to Government was £105m for three years implement the DDA, a process that will only. The programme has recently been take a number of years, given the age and relaunched with: condition of many of the existing stations. • funds available increased to £430m, and In partnership with key stakeholders, the programme extended from three to criteria are being produced to allocate ten years; these funds will lever in funds and optimise the value of the additional funding from local outputs flowing from them, and details of stakeholders; a funding mechanism are being • a speeded-up approval process, with the developed. A further announcement will steps on the way more transparent; be made later this year. • schemes under £250,000 will be fast- tracked to a decision in one to two Small scale freight schemes months, and schemes under £5m will Small scale schemes designed to deliver early receive a decision within four months; benefits to freight will be funded through a • capital grants will also be available to £300m Freight Small Schemes Fund. These provide assistance with up-front costs. could include early work on gauge enhancement, branch line reopenings, loop Access for All lengthening and small network The 10 Year Plan stated that “building in improvements to increase capacity, improve accessibility for disabled people in all new reliability and promote efficiency. The initial investment is a condition of public money focus will be on schemes which can be being spent”. An integrated set of initiatives delivered in a short (two to three year) time has been developed to realise this goal, frame, those which can be carried out at the including: same time as renewals which are already • publication of the SRA Code of Practice on planned and those which place least pressure accessibility standards, which deals with on scarce technical resources. services provided for disabled people; 04.sum.priorities.qxd 4/1/02 10:40 am Page 34

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Section 4 The priorities – short term continued

The SRA will Tackling skills shortages and vital role that manufacturers and suppliers take the lead supporting innovation themselves play in this area. As part of this on proposals This Plan is intended to encourage strategy the SRA is carrying out a study of for a National development of the supply side of the the case for a national test track to accelerate industry, through setting out achievable the introduction of new trains into service Rail Academy. investment priorities and hence giving the and improve their reliability. The study will supply industry confidence to invest. report early this year. Specific further measures planned are: • the SRA will take the lead on proposals Review of policy options for a Academy, to promote Although the technical work underpinning the development of the key skills and this Plan has assumed no change in key competencies needed to run a railway on policies, the SRA cannot proceed on the a safe and effective basis; the SRA has basis that existing policies in crucial areas provided £500,000 for development such as fares continue indefinitely, without work; considering the advantages and • the SRA will become a member of the disadvantages of change. For example, there Rail Industry Training Council (the is already a tension between London peak national training organisation for the rail fares regulation and Tf L’s travelcard pricing industry), and take a lead role in setting policy. Changes in fares policies have the the training agenda as well as encouraging potential to reduce investment requirements the industry to give full support to the and future subsidy levels, as well as to RITC; increase demand through selective fares cuts, • the SRA will promote the joint where capacity can be expanded at modest SRA/Department for Education and cost. Changes to PSRs have the potential to Skills action plan on skills 8 covering the improve performance and increase capacity. areas of manpower planning, recruitment, The SRA’s overcrowding standards are based and training and development, pushing on those that first applied in the the skills issue faster up the agenda; early 1980s and have not been through a • refranchising will be used to promote process of review for some time. training wherever possible – for example Any change will have to be examined the Midland Mainline franchise extension carefully and will be subject to consultation. deal includes a commitment to set up a The SRA will be carrying out a review of Customer Services Academy. fares policy together with its continuing Skills development is not the only supply analysis of possible PSR changes (see Section side measure needed. The rail industry has a 4 “Improving performance”). On poor record of introducing new technology, overcrowding standards, the SRA will revisit and to stimulate change the SRA is the scope of the standards (which TOCs developing a research and innovation they apply to) and the way they are defined strategy. The SRA’s strategy will seek to (to ensure this best reflects the impact of 8 A Framework for Skills for the Rail Industry, DfEE/SRA, speed up the process, without replacing the overcrowding), recognising that London, 2001 04.sum.priorities.qxd 4/1/02 10:40 am Page 35

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Section 5 The priorities – medium term

overcrowding is an issue at peak times on Medium term priorities many parts of the network, not just The purpose of this section is to set out the London. SRA’s medium term priorities. These are focused on delivering the major investment Each of these areas feeds into the broader projects needed to address the Government’s issue of capacity allocation on the rail core targets for the railways and developing network. The SRA intends to issue a a pipeline of further investment projects for Capacity Allocation Strategy later this year the longer term, that can be implemented as and will shortly be announcing details of the resources permit. related consultation process.

Additional projects to meet the 10 Year Plan In addition to statutory and contractual commitments, the SRA has prioritised the following schemes. These schemes are at varying stages of development and in some cases their precise scope and implementation timetable – within the 10 Year Plan period – are still being finalised. The priority schemes are: Passenger • the first three franchise replacements: Chiltern, South Central and South West Trains, which will deliver new rolling stock, increased capacity and better integration with other modes; • the Thameslink 2000 project, providing Metro-style frequencies through the centre of London, and relieving congestion on the Underground; • an upgrade of the (ECML), with half hourly services to Leeds as an early improvement. The scope and timing of this upgrade is currently being reviewed in the light of emerging information on costs and market requirements. More detailed proposals will be put forward in the coming months; 04.sum.priorities.qxd 4/1/02 10:40 am Page 36

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Section 5 The priorities – medium term continued

• the new rolling stock and improved designed to allow the gauge and route stations from the Midland Mainline availability works to be accelerated, to franchise extension; open the railway to new, heavier and • improvements under the new wider loads at the earliest possible TransPennine Express franchise; opportunity; • platform extensions to accommodate • improved access to the ports on South longer trains on the Connex South Humberside; Eastern, Great Northern and First Great • capacity improvements on local routes in Eastern franchises, increasing capacity and the West Midlands, including restoration reducing overcrowding; measures such as of the Stourbridge Junction – Walsall route, to provide capacity for long introducing longer trains and changes to distance freight services to cross timetables are likely to be taken on these Birmingham quickly; and other franchises that suffer from • enlargement of clearances at bridges and overcrowding; platforms to allow larger, wider trains to • extension of the , pass. linking together rail services North and South of the Thames and promoting The overall programme access to Docklands. This project is also a The table “Major priority investment stepping stone to the eventual projects” lists the SRA’s priority projects, implementation of Orbirail, which would and the level of commitment each has be a high frequency inner suburban reached. The chart “Major projects – service linking together key interchange indicative timescales” gives estimated points at the edge of the central area of timescales for the execution of projects to be completed before 2010. The timetable London; represents the SRA’s latest information about • capacity improvements on the London – when its priority projects could be started or West Anglia route, to improve both local finished, provided that SPVs can be put in and Stansted Airport services; place quickly to provide the necessary • new RPP Projects. private sector investment and programme Freight management capability that is needed. A programme of gauge and capacity The timetable’s starting points are statutory enhancement designed to provide a national deadlines for safety improvements and network of freight routes offering access to existing contractual commitments. Dates for heavier, wider and higher freight trains projects which are still in development, and throughout the day is being developed. As particularly those where no contractual announced in the Freight Strategy, it will commitment has been entered into with the include: private sector, are necessarily more uncertain • trunk routes for freight trains from than other dates. The SRA will continue to Felixstowe to the West Coast Main Line develop and refine its investment plan as a (joining it at Nuneaton) and from key element of the proposed new industry Southampton to the West Midlands and planning framework. the North West. The programme is being 04.sum.priorities.qxd 4/1/02 10:40 am Page 37

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Major projects – indicative timescales

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 TPWS Mark 1 replacement Midland Mainline upgrade: stations and new trains West Coast upgrade CrossCountry upgrade New trains and platform extensions for Connex South Eastern Chiltern upgrade East London Line extension TransPennine upgrade, e.g. stations and new trains Channel Tunnel Rail Link Section 1 Incremental Output Statements Modern Facilities at Stations West Anglia Route Modernisation Thameslink 2000 Southampton – West Midlands upgrade gauge clearance Felixstowe – Nuneaton upgrade gauge clearance East Coast Main Line upgrade initial capacity upgrade South Central upgrade Ashford – Hastings and Hurst Green – Uckfield electrification Arun Valley, Brighton Main Line and South Coast upgrades South West Trains upgrade suburban platform extensions Main Line platform and train lengthening further Main Line capacity RPP schemes Other freight projects

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Section 5 The priorities – medium term continued

From now on, Major priority investment projects Implementation infrastructure Commitments To date, there has been a close link between investment • Train Protection Warning System refranchising and investment, typified by the • replacement of Mark 1 coaches first three replacements. From now on, and • delivery of ERTMS Pilots infrastructure investment and refranchising refranchising • West Coast upgrade are likely to proceed along separate, but are likely to • Channel Tunnel Rail Link closely related, courses. Most major new proceed • Incremental Output Statements projects in this Plan are likely to be taken • DDA implementation forward by the SRA working directly along • CrossCountry upgrade through project development mechanisms separate, but with Railtrack’s successor, developers, Priorities by 2010 closely contractors and others rather than through • committed outputs 9 from the Chiltern, the mechanism of a franchise agreement. related, South Central and South West Trains courses. replacements However, where franchisees indicate that • Thameslink 2000 they do propose to take the lead on • East Coast Main Line upgrade, delivering infrastructure projects, and have including improvements at Kings Cross the financial and managerial resources to do • Freight Strategy so, this approach will be considered. • Midland Mainline franchise extension • TransPennine refranchising Schemes for further development • new trains and platform extensions to A number of major schemes are being reduce overcrowding in South East developed and offer potential particularly for England delivering on the wider agenda of the • East London Line extension 10 Year Plan. More work needs to be done • London – West Anglia modernisation on their feasibility, value for money and • RPP schemes inter-relationships with existing services.

Schemes for further development This Plan contains funding to allow these to • West Midlands capacity study be explored further, but there is unlikely to • Greater Manchester capacity study be sufficient funding or technical resources • rail schemes from Multi-Modal Studies available to support implementation before • longer term aspirations for the Chiltern, 2010. If increased funding becomes South Central and South West available, particularly through partnerships replacements with other parts of the public sector, it may • full South London Metro project be possible to make progress more quickly • London Crossrail and Merton – Hackney on some of them. • further interchange improvements at Kings Cross/St Pancras These projects include: • North – South High Speed Line • West Midlands capacity study proposals; • Great Western upgrade • Greater Manchester capacity study proposals; • improved links to Heathrow, Glasgow • rail-based projects identified in the Multi- and Edinburgh Airports Modal Studies; 9 Committed outputs are the main priorities within the • strategic options for North – South • longer term aspirations proposed in the new franchise agreements freight capacity first three franchise replacements; 04.sum.priorities.qxd 4/1/02 10:40 am Page 39

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• development of a South London Metro beyond the initial stages, to provide higher frequency services; • London Crossrail. Options for taking forward this scheme as well as the proposed Merton – Hackney project are being developed by the newly formed SRA-Tf L joint venture, Cross Links, with the SRA contributing £75m of the costs; • Kings Cross/St Pancras superhub works beyond the substantial improvements committed to facilitate the Channel Tunnel Rail Link terminal and as part of the proposed ECML upgrade; • North – South High Speed Line; • major infrastructure improvements to the ; • Airtrack, offering direct services from Heathrow to Waterloo, Woking and the South West Trains network. Co-funding of this project by BAA will have a major role to play in its implementation; • direct rail links to Edinburgh and Glasgow Airports; • strategic options for North – South freight capacity. 04.sum.priorities.qxd 4/1/02 10:40 am Page 40

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Section 6 The priorities – longer term

The railway The longer term for further development”. Radical solutions will play an There is clear evidence that the railway will may be needed to address capacity shortage increasingly have an increasingly important role after between London, the North of England and important part 2010. Demand for transport is predicted to Scotland, including consideration of a new continue to rise, at least as fast as economic line with a high speed capability. After in providing growth. The road network will simply be completion of the CTRL, better Channel for the unable to cope with this growth, even if its Tunnel links to the regions to provide an nation’s expansion were an acceptable solution in alternative to European ‘hub and spoke’ transport financial, social and environmental terms. connecting flights may be required, and needs. The railway will therefore play an there will be a need to connect new freight increasingly important part in providing for and passenger markets which will develop the nation’s transport needs. over the next decade with new or reinstated railways or new freight sidings. Moreover, the inherent advantages of rail are likely to grow in significance, particularly: • speed; • the ability to move high volumes efficiently; • low environmental emissions in relation to volumes moved (especially of carbon dioxide); • potential for use of alternative energy sources, and efficient use of energy; • low environmental impact (visual and land take); • better safety record than other land transport modes.

The SRA is planning for a safer, bigger, better railway, meeting the standard of good European practice. A railway whose customers use it with confidence and which provides a real alternative to car, coach and air, across the country. Such a railway would carry substantially more freight and passengers and would contribute to the Government’s wider aims on regeneration, sustainable transport, the environment, health, employment, social inclusion and accessibility for all.

This will require implementation of many of the schemes outlined in Section 5 “Schemes