Connecting Communities: Expanding Access to the Rail Network
Encyclopedia
Connecting Communities: Expanding Access to the Rail Network is a 2009 report by the Association of Train Operating Companies
(ATOC) identifying potential expansion of the National Rail
passenger railway network in England
, primarily through the construction or re-opening of railway lines for passenger services, and the construction or re-opening of up to 40 new passenger railway stations.
The report was published on 15 June 2009, and identified 14 commercially viable schemes involving new passenger lines, requiring the definite re-opening or construction of at least 30 new stations. These schemes would be using a mixture of historically closed lines, recently closed or currently operating freight
only lines, or sharing heritage railway
tracks with permission from their owners. The report also identified seven commercially viable sites for new Park and Ride
stations (a.k.a. Parkway stations) to be built on existing lines. The report also identified seven potential new passenger 'link lines' on the existing rail network, opening up new passenger routes but without new stations.
The report covered relatively low cost short term localised schemes, with lead time
s from initiation to completion ranging from 2 years 9 months to 6 years, complementing larger schemes already in place for completion past 2014. For the schemes to reach completion, the proposals would need to be taken forward by the respective local and regional
governments, Network Rail
(the infrastructure owner) and the Department for Transport
.
The schemes would complement development to the national rail network already undertaken since 1995, comprising the completion of 27 new lines (totalling 199 track miles) and 68 stations, with 65 new station sites identified by Network Rail or government for possible construction. The report examine schemes in England
only, due to fact rail development in Scotland
and Wales
was already being organised by Transport Scotland
and the Welsh Assembly.
took a top down approach to the method of identifying possible sites for introducing new services and infrastructure, by first identifying areas and communities not well served by the current national network, and then comparing those with opportunities for development based on simple reinstatement or existing lines or the construction of relatively short new lines. This approach took into account the fact that many communities had grown in population since losing a previous service, and others had been entirely built without a rail connection.
Using demographic and industry data, ATOC compared the usage levels of passenger rail in other well-served areas of the country, and determined a baseline population figure of 15,000 (based on the 2001 census
), above which level, communities were considered potential candidates for commercially viable new schemes.
These potential locations were then compared with a map of the lines and services that had been cut in the Beeching Axe
of the 1960s, and beyond. This identified a candidate list of 75 possible communities, which were further reduced based on an analysis using passenger demand forecasting, local traffic congestion
levels, local commuting patterns, the feasibility of any new rail route, the capital cost, and the proximity of existing rail access locations.
Many options were eliminated due to the loss of important permanent way
features such as bridges, although many of the remaining proposals include construction of new level crossing
s and in at least one case the construction of a new bridge.
The 35 locations that remained after this analysis were then evaluated further against the use of possible new services by customers, taking into account for example factors such as local traffic congestion
, to give a benefit-cost ratio
(BCR) figure for each scheme, which determined whether these schemes would be included in the report as commercially viable in the opinion of ATOC.
(BCR) of greater than 1, when examined with proposed new passenger services, meaning that the possible new services would be commercially viable. The report summarised the remaining schemes analysed with a BCR of less than 1, on the basis that there could be a net benefit of the schemes when taking into account regeneration and expansion that would occur if the scheme was implemented.
Of the 14 schemes with a BCR above 1, six are on existing freight
or heritage railway
lines, three are on recently closed freight only lines and the remaining five use part of the permanent way
of lines closed in the past. The Heritage Railways involved include the Paignton and Dartmouth Steam Railway
and the East Lancashire Railway
.
Eight of these 14 schemes involve the extension or diversion of existing passenger services. The remaining six would require new services to be integrated into the existing capacity on the main lines they connect to.
Three of the schemes also link currently separate parts of the network, Leicester – Burton, Washington (Leamside Line) and Brownhills (Walsall – Lichfield line), bringing possible additional benefits for freight traffic and provision of diversionary routes.
The 14 schemes with a BCR greater than 1 were as follows:
Marked out for additional mention was the reopening of Portishead railway station
on an existing freight route, which, although determined as having a BCR of 0.6, it was believed this would be raised above 1.0 if evaluated based upon up to date figures, due on very high local population growth post-2001, and heavy traffic congestion at Junction 19 of the M5 Motorway
.
stations (a.k.a. Parkway stations) to be built on existing passenger lines, to serve communities with a population of 15,000 or more. These schemes all had Benefit-cost ratio
s (BCRs) of over 1.7, up to 10.2. The locations are as follows:
report also identified 16 new 'link lines' on the existing rail network where new passenger services could be run as part of National Rail
services, but without implementing new stations. These would bring the benefit of providing new journey opportunities for passengers, as well as more options for diversionary routes for traffic the national network
. None of these served populations over 15,000, and as such none of the link lines were evaluated for a specific benefit-cost ratio
(BCR). The links identified were as follows:
Association of Train Operating Companies
The Association of Train Operating Companies is a body which represents 24 train operating companies that provide passenger railway services on the privatised British railway system. It owns the National Rail brand. The Association is an unincorporated association owned by its members...
(ATOC) identifying potential expansion of the National Rail
National Rail
National Rail is a title used by the Association of Train Operating Companies as a generic term to define the passenger rail services operated in Great Britain...
passenger railway network in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, primarily through the construction or re-opening of railway lines for passenger services, and the construction or re-opening of up to 40 new passenger railway stations.
The report was published on 15 June 2009, and identified 14 commercially viable schemes involving new passenger lines, requiring the definite re-opening or construction of at least 30 new stations. These schemes would be using a mixture of historically closed lines, recently closed or currently operating freight
Freight train
A freight train or goods train is a group of freight cars or goods wagons hauled by one or more locomotives on a railway, ultimately transporting cargo between two points as part of the logistics chain...
only lines, or sharing heritage railway
Heritage railway
thumb|right|the Historical [[Khyber train safari|Khyber Railway]] goes through the [[Khyber Pass]], [[Pakistan]]A heritage railway , preserved railway , tourist railway , or tourist railroad is a railway that is run as a tourist attraction, in some cases by volunteers, and...
tracks with permission from their owners. The report also identified seven commercially viable sites for new Park and Ride
Park and ride
Park and ride facilities are car parks with connections to public transport that allow commuters and other people wishing to travel into city centres to leave their vehicles and transfer to a bus, rail system , or carpool for the rest of their trip...
stations (a.k.a. Parkway stations) to be built on existing lines. The report also identified seven potential new passenger 'link lines' on the existing rail network, opening up new passenger routes but without new stations.
The report covered relatively low cost short term localised schemes, with lead time
Lead time
A lead time is the latency between the initiation and execution of a process. For example, the lead time between the placement of an order and delivery of a new car from a manufacturer may be anywhere from 2 weeks to 6 months...
s from initiation to completion ranging from 2 years 9 months to 6 years, complementing larger schemes already in place for completion past 2014. For the schemes to reach completion, the proposals would need to be taken forward by the respective local and regional
Regions of England
In England, the region is the highest tier of sub-national division used by central Government. Between 1994 and 2011, the nine regions had an administrative role in the implementation of UK Government policy, and as the areas covered by elected bodies...
governments, Network Rail
Network Rail
Network Rail is the government-created owner and operator of most of the rail infrastructure in Great Britain .; it is not responsible for railway infrastructure in Northern Ireland...
(the infrastructure owner) and the Department for Transport
Department for Transport
In the United Kingdom, the Department for Transport is the government department responsible for the English transport network and a limited number of transport matters in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland which are not devolved...
.
The schemes would complement development to the national rail network already undertaken since 1995, comprising the completion of 27 new lines (totalling 199 track miles) and 68 stations, with 65 new station sites identified by Network Rail or government for possible construction. The report examine schemes in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
only, due to fact rail development in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
and Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
was already being organised by Transport Scotland
Transport Scotland
Transport Scotland was created on 1 January 2006 as the national transport agency of Scotland. It is an Executive Agency of the Scottish Government's Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning Department and accountable to Scottish Ministers...
and the Welsh Assembly.
Methodology
ATOCAssociation of Train Operating Companies
The Association of Train Operating Companies is a body which represents 24 train operating companies that provide passenger railway services on the privatised British railway system. It owns the National Rail brand. The Association is an unincorporated association owned by its members...
took a top down approach to the method of identifying possible sites for introducing new services and infrastructure, by first identifying areas and communities not well served by the current national network, and then comparing those with opportunities for development based on simple reinstatement or existing lines or the construction of relatively short new lines. This approach took into account the fact that many communities had grown in population since losing a previous service, and others had been entirely built without a rail connection.
Using demographic and industry data, ATOC compared the usage levels of passenger rail in other well-served areas of the country, and determined a baseline population figure of 15,000 (based on the 2001 census
United Kingdom Census 2001
A nationwide census, known as Census 2001, was conducted in the United Kingdom on Sunday, 29 April 2001. This was the 20th UK Census and recorded a resident population of 58,789,194....
), above which level, communities were considered potential candidates for commercially viable new schemes.
These potential locations were then compared with a map of the lines and services that had been cut in the Beeching Axe
Beeching Axe
The Beeching Axe or the Beeching Cuts are informal names for the British Government's attempt in the 1960s to reduce the cost of running British Railways, the nationalised railway system in the United Kingdom. The name is that of the main author of The Reshaping of British Railways, Dr Richard...
of the 1960s, and beyond. This identified a candidate list of 75 possible communities, which were further reduced based on an analysis using passenger demand forecasting, local traffic congestion
Traffic congestion
Traffic congestion is a condition on road networks that occurs as use increases, and is characterized by slower speeds, longer trip times, and increased vehicular queueing. The most common example is the physical use of roads by vehicles. When traffic demand is great enough that the interaction...
levels, local commuting patterns, the feasibility of any new rail route, the capital cost, and the proximity of existing rail access locations.
Many options were eliminated due to the loss of important permanent way
Permanent way
The permanent way is the elements of railway lines: generally the pairs of rails typically laid on the sleepers embedded in ballast, intended to carry the ordinary trains of a railway...
features such as bridges, although many of the remaining proposals include construction of new level crossing
Level crossing
A level crossing occurs where a railway line is intersected by a road or path onone level, without recourse to a bridge or tunnel. It is a type of at-grade intersection. The term also applies when a light rail line with separate right-of-way or reserved track crosses a road in the same fashion...
s and in at least one case the construction of a new bridge.
The 35 locations that remained after this analysis were then evaluated further against the use of possible new services by customers, taking into account for example factors such as local traffic congestion
Traffic congestion
Traffic congestion is a condition on road networks that occurs as use increases, and is characterized by slower speeds, longer trip times, and increased vehicular queueing. The most common example is the physical use of roads by vehicles. When traffic demand is great enough that the interaction...
, to give a benefit-cost ratio
Benefit-cost ratio
A benefit-cost ratio is an indicator, used in the formal discipline of cost-benefit analysis, that attempts to summarize the overall value for money of a project or proposal. A BCR is the ratio of the benefits of a project or proposal, expressed in monetary terms, relative to its costs, also...
(BCR) figure for each scheme, which determined whether these schemes would be included in the report as commercially viable in the opinion of ATOC.
New rail and station schemes
Of the 35 schemes identified in the report Methodology, the final report detailed 14 schemes involving line and station development which had an indicated benefit-cost ratioBenefit-cost ratio
A benefit-cost ratio is an indicator, used in the formal discipline of cost-benefit analysis, that attempts to summarize the overall value for money of a project or proposal. A BCR is the ratio of the benefits of a project or proposal, expressed in monetary terms, relative to its costs, also...
(BCR) of greater than 1, when examined with proposed new passenger services, meaning that the possible new services would be commercially viable. The report summarised the remaining schemes analysed with a BCR of less than 1, on the basis that there could be a net benefit of the schemes when taking into account regeneration and expansion that would occur if the scheme was implemented.
Of the 14 schemes with a BCR above 1, six are on existing freight
Freight train
A freight train or goods train is a group of freight cars or goods wagons hauled by one or more locomotives on a railway, ultimately transporting cargo between two points as part of the logistics chain...
or heritage railway
Heritage railway
thumb|right|the Historical [[Khyber train safari|Khyber Railway]] goes through the [[Khyber Pass]], [[Pakistan]]A heritage railway , preserved railway , tourist railway , or tourist railroad is a railway that is run as a tourist attraction, in some cases by volunteers, and...
lines, three are on recently closed freight only lines and the remaining five use part of the permanent way
Permanent way
The permanent way is the elements of railway lines: generally the pairs of rails typically laid on the sleepers embedded in ballast, intended to carry the ordinary trains of a railway...
of lines closed in the past. The Heritage Railways involved include the Paignton and Dartmouth Steam Railway
Paignton and Dartmouth Steam Railway
The Paignton & Dartmouth Steam Railway is a heritage railway on the former Kingswear branch line between Paignton and Kingswear in Torbay, Devon, England....
and the East Lancashire Railway
East Lancashire Railway
The East Lancashire Railway is a heritage railway in Lancashire and Greater Manchester, England.-Overview:After formal closure by British Rail in 1982, the line was reopened on 25 July 1987. The initial service operated between Bury and Ramsbottom, via Summerseat. In 1991 the service was extended...
.
Eight of these 14 schemes involve the extension or diversion of existing passenger services. The remaining six would require new services to be integrated into the existing capacity on the main lines they connect to.
Three of the schemes also link currently separate parts of the network, Leicester – Burton, Washington (Leamside Line) and Brownhills (Walsall – Lichfield line), bringing possible additional benefits for freight traffic and provision of diversionary routes.
The 14 schemes with a BCR greater than 1 were as follows:
| Scheme name | Proposed services | Estimated capital cost | Number of proposed stations | Proposed stations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aldridge Aldridge Aldridge is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Walsall, in the West Midlands, England. Historically it was part of the county of Staffordshire, but in 1974 it was incorporated into the Walsall borough as well as the West Midlands county.- History :... |
Birmingham New Street – Walsall Walsall railway station Walsall railway station is the principal railway station of Walsall, West Midlands, England and situated in the heart of the town. It is operated by London Midland, who run all of its train services... Sutton Park Line |
6 | 1 |
|
| Ashington Ashington Ashington is a town and civil parish in Northumberland, England with a population of around 27,000 people; it was once a centre of the coal mining industry. The town is located some north of Newcastle upon Tyne off the A189. The south of the town is bordered by the River Wansbeck... and Blyth Blyth, Northumberland Blyth is a town and civil parish in southeast Northumberland, England. It lies on the coast, to the south of the River Blyth and is approximately 21 kilometres northeast of Newcastle upon Tyne... |
Newcastle Newcastle Central station Newcastle railway station , is the mainline station of the city of Newcastle upon Tyne, England and is a principal stop on the East Coast Main Line. It opened in 1850 and is a Grade I listed building... /MetroCentre MetroCentre railway station MetroCentre railway station is a railway station that serves the MetroCentre shopping and leisure complex in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear. It is located on the Tyne Valley Line from Newcastle upon Tyne to Carlisle, and is managed by Northern Rail.... – Ashington Blyth and Tyne Railway |
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Seaton Delaval Seaton Delaval is a village in Northumberland, England, with a population of 4,371. It is the largest of the five villages in Seaton Valley and is the site of Seaton Delaval Hall, the masterpiece completed by Sir John Vanbrugh in 1727.... ) Bedlington Bedlington is a town in Northumberland, to the north of the Tyne and Wear urban area. It lies north of Newcastle and southeast of the county town of Morpeth. Other nearby places include Ashington to the north northeast, Blyth to the east and Cramlington to the south.The parish of Bedlington... ) Ashington railway station Ashington railway station was a station serving the town of Ashington in Northumberland, Northern England. It was on the branch to Newbiggin-by-the-Sea.... (original site or new location) |
| Bordon Bordon Bordon is a town in the East Hampshire district of Hampshire, England. It lies 5.4 miles southeast of Alton and forms a part of the civil parish of Whitehill, the adjoining village. Both settlements are on the A325 road and close to the A3 road between London and Portsmouth... |
Aldershot Aldershot railway station Aldershot railway station is on Station Road, near the town centre of Aldershot, Hampshire, England. It is on the Alton Line, part of the National Rail network, with train services and station facilities provided by South West Trains.... – Bordon Bordon Light Railway Bordon Light Railway The Bordon Light Railway was a short-lived light railway line in Hampshire that connected the Army Camp at Bordon, as well as the villages of Bordon and Kingsley, with the national rail network at Bentley on the main Farnham-Alton line, a distance of 4.5 miles .- History :Following the end of the... |
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Bordon railway station Bordon was a railway station on the Bordon Light Railway which served the village of Bordon and its nearby Army Camp. The station building was constructed of corrugated iron on steel framing and stood on a short brick wall. Extra traffic during the First World War led to the extension of the... station) |
| Brixham Brixham Brixham is a small fishing town and civil parish in the county of Devon, in the south-west of England. Brixham is at the southern end of Torbay, across the bay from Torquay, and is a fishing port. Fishing and tourism are its major industries. At the time of the 2001 census it had a population of... |
To Exmouth Exmouth railway station Exmouth station serves the town of Exmouth in Devon, England and is south east of -History:The railway to Exmouth was opened on 1 May 1861. New docks designed by Eugenius Birch were opened in 1868 and a short branch was laid to connect them to the goods yard.A branch line with a junction... to Churston (for Brixham) via Exeter Exeter St Davids railway station Exeter St Davids station is the most important of seven National Rail stations in the city of Exeter in southwest England. Today the station is owned by Network Rail and operated by First Great Western.-History:... Paignton and Dartmouth Steam Railway Paignton and Dartmouth Steam Railway The Paignton & Dartmouth Steam Railway is a heritage railway on the former Kingswear branch line between Paignton and Kingswear in Torbay, Devon, England.... and Avocet Line Avocet Line The Avocet Line is the railway line in England connecting Exeter with Exmouth. It was originally built by the London and South Western Railway. The line follows the Exe Estuary for most of its route, giving views of the estuary... |
0 | 2 |
Goodrington Sands railway station Goodrington Sands railway station is on the Paignton and Dartmouth Steam Railway, a heritage railway in Devon, England. It is close to Goodrington beach and the Quay West Water Park in Paignton.-History:... Churston railway station Churston railway station is on the Paignton and Dartmouth Steam Railway, a heritage railway in Torbay, Devon, England. It is on the main road to Brixham and close to the villages of Galmpton and Churston Ferrers.-Before preservation:... |
| Brownhills Brownhills Brownhills is a town in the West Midlands, England. Located on the edge of Cannock Chase near the large artificial lake Chasewater, it is north-east of Walsall and a similar distance south-west of Lichfield. It is part of the Metropolitan Borough of Walsall and the Aldridge-Brownhills... |
Walsall Walsall railway station Walsall railway station is the principal railway station of Walsall, West Midlands, England and situated in the heart of the town. It is operated by London Midland, who run all of its train services... to Lichfield Lichfield Lichfield is a cathedral city, civil parish and district in Staffordshire, England. One of eight civil parishes with city status in England, Lichfield is situated roughly north of Birmingham... via Brownhills South Staffordshire Line South Staffordshire Line The South Staffordshire Line was a railway line that connected Lichfield in Staffordshire, England with Dudley, formerly in Worcestershire. However, it joined the Oxford, Worcester and Wolverhampton Railway's line just north of Dudley Station, where it, in essence, continued to Stourbridge, in... |
122 | 2 |
Pelsall railway station Pelsall railway station was a station on the South Staffordshire Line. It was opened in 1849. It closed as part of the Beeching Axe in 1965. The station was built and served by the South Staffordshire Railway, which later became London, Midland and Scottish Railway .This was one of the three closed... Brownhills railway station Brownhills railway station was a station on the South Staffordshire Line in England. It was opened in 1849. It closed as part of the Beeching Axe in 1965... |
| Cranleigh Cranleigh Cranleigh is a large village, self-proclaimed the largest in England, and is situated 8 miles south east of Godalming in Surrey. It lies to the east of the A281 which links Guildford with Horsham; neighbouring villages include: Ewhurst, Alfold and Hascombe.... |
Extension of London Waterloo – Guildford Guildford (Surrey) railway station Guildford railway station is an important railway junction on the Portsmouth Direct Line serving the town of Guildford in Surrey, England. It is 30.3 miles from London Waterloo.... stopping service Cranleigh Line Cranleigh Line The Cranleigh Line was a short railway line that connected Guildford, the county town of Surrey, with the West Sussex market town of Horsham, via Cranleigh, a distance of 19¼ miles... |
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Cranleigh railway station Cranleigh was a railway station on the Cranleigh Line which served the village of Cranleigh. Opening in 1865 as "Cranley", its name was changed in 1867 to "Cranleigh" at the request of the Postmaster General as badly addressed letters to "Cranley" were often mistaken for "Crawley" and vice versa... Bramley & Wonersh railway station Bramley & Wonersh was a railway station on the Cranleigh Line. It served the villages of Bramley and Wonersh. Opened in 1865 as "Bramley", its name was changed in June 1888 to "Bramley & Wonersh" as the station, although situated in Bramley, was only a short distance from Wonersh. A passing loop... |
| Fleetwood Fleetwood Fleetwood is a town within the Wyre district of Lancashire, England, lying at the northwest corner of the Fylde. It had a population of 26,840 people at the 2001 Census. It forms part of the Greater Blackpool conurbation. The town was the first planned community of the Victorian era... |
Preston Preston railway station Preston railway station serves the city of Preston in Lancashire, England and is a major station on the West Coast Main Line.It is served by Northern Rail, Virgin Trains, and TransPennine Express services, plus First ScotRail overnight sleeper services between London and Scotland.-Station layout... – Fleetwood Fleetwood Branch Line Fleetwood Branch Line The Fleetwood Branch Line consists of the train line from to . It passed through many smaller stations along the way . When work at Fleetwood docks was under threat, the Fleetwood station was closed, this effectively closed the branch in 1970... |
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Thornton, Lancashire Thornton is a village on the Fylde, in Lancashire, England, about four miles north of Blackpool and two miles south of Fleetwood. It is in the Borough of Wyre... ) Fleetwood railway station There have been three locations for Fleetwood railway station in Fleetwood, Lancashire, England. The first, from 1840 to 1883, was in Dock Street, opposite Church Street. The second, from 1883 to 1966, was in Queen's Terrace... |
| Hythe Hythe, Hampshire Hythe is a village near Southampton, Hampshire, England. It is located by the shore of Southampton Water, and has a ferry service connecting it to Southampton... |
Hythe to Southampton Southampton Central railway station Southampton Central railway station is a main line railway station serving the city of Southampton in Hampshire, southern England. It is on the Wessex Main Line, the South Western Main Line and the West Coastway Line... , Southampton Airport and Romse Romsey railway station Romsey railway station serves the town of Romsey in the county of Hampshire in England. It is located on the Wessex Main Line and is the junction station for the Eastleigh to Romsey Line.-History:... Fawley Branch Line |
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Hythe (Hampshire) railway station Hythe railway station was an intermediate station on the Totton, Hythe and Fawley Light Railway, which was built along the coast of Southampton Water to connect and and to provide a freight link to Fawley Refinery.-History:... (See Hythe, Hampshire Hythe, Hampshire Hythe is a village near Southampton, Hampshire, England. It is located by the shore of Southampton Water, and has a ferry service connecting it to Southampton... ) |
| Leicester Leicester Leicester is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England, and the county town of Leicestershire. The city lies on the River Soar and at the edge of the National Forest... – Burton Burton upon Trent Burton upon Trent, also known as Burton-on-Trent or simply Burton, is a town straddling the River Trent in the east of Staffordshire, England. Its associated adjective is "Burtonian".... |
Leicester Leicester railway station Leicester railway station serves the City of Leicester in Leicestershire, England.As of late 2009 Leicester is a Penalty fare station, a valid ticket or Permit to travel must be shown when requested.-Background:... – Burton or Derby Derby Midland railway station Derby railway station , also known as Derby Midland Station, is a main line railway station serving the city of Derby in England. Owned by Network Rail and managed by East Midlands Trains, the station is also used by CrossCountry services and one Northern Rail service... Leicester and Swannington Railway Leicester and Swannington Railway The Leicester and Swannington Railway was one of England's first railways, being opened on 17 July 1832 to bring coal from collieries in west Leicestershire to Leicester.-Overview:... |
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Kirby Muxloe railway station Kirby Muxloe railway station was a station on the Midland Railway line between and that bypassed part of the Leicester and Swannington Railway in Leicestershire, England.The Midland opened line through Kirby Muxloe in 1848... Bagworth Bagworth is a village in Leicestershire, England, west of Leicester.-History:There are records of the manor of Bagworth from the early 14th and early 15th centuries, when it was held by the same feudal lords as the neighbouring manor of Thornton.... ) Coalville Town railway station Coalville Town was a railway station at Coalville in Leicestershire on the Leicester to Burton upon Trent Line. The Midland Railway opened the station in 1894 and British Railways closed it on 7th September 1964.... Ashby de la Zouch railway station Ashby de la Zouch railway station was a railway station at Ashby-de-la-Zouch in Leicestershire on the Leicester to Burton upon Trent Line. The Midland Railway opened it on 1849 and British Railways closed it on 1964.... Moira, Leicestershire Moira is a former mining village about west of Ashby-de-la-Zouch in North West Leicestershire, England. The village is about miles south of the Derbyshire town of Swadlincote and is close to the county boundary.... ) Swadlincote Swadlincote is a town and unparished area in South Derbyshire, about southeast of Burton-upon-Trent and about south of Derby. It is the main town of South Derbyshire and the seat of South Derbyshire District Council.... ) |
| Rawtenstall Rawtenstall Rawtenstall is a town at the centre of the Rossendale Valley, in Lancashire, England. It is the seat for the Borough of Rossendale, in which it is located. The town lies 18 miles north of Manchester, 22 miles east of the county town of Preston and 45 miles south east of Lancaster... |
Manchester Victoria Manchester Victoria station Manchester Victoria station in Manchester, England is the city's second largest mainline railway station. It is also a Metrolink station, one of eight within the City Zone... to Rawtenstall via Heywood East Lancashire Railway East Lancashire Railway The East Lancashire Railway is a heritage railway in Lancashire and Greater Manchester, England.-Overview:After formal closure by British Rail in 1982, the line was reopened on 25 July 1987. The initial service operated between Bury and Ramsbottom, via Summerseat. In 1991 the service was extended... |
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Heywood railway station Heywood railway station serves the town of Heywood in Greater Manchester, England. The original station opened on the national rail network in 1841 and closed in 1970. It re-opened on 6 September 2003 as an extension of the East Lancashire Railway from Bury Bolton Street... Bury Bolton Street railway station Bury Bolton Street railway station is a railway station in Bury, Greater Manchester.- History :It was formerly the main station serving the town, with links north to Ramsbottom, thence via Stubbins Junction either to Rawtenstall and Bacup or to Haslingden and Accrington; and south to Radcliffe... Summerseat railway station Summerseat railway station serves the village of Summerseat in Greater Manchester, England. It is part of the East Lancashire Railway.-External links:... Ramsbottom railway station Ramsbottom railway station serves the town of Ramsbottom in Greater Manchester, England.-History:The station was built by the East Lancashire Railway and opened on 28 September 1846... Irwell Vale railway station Irwell Vale railway station is a brand new station built as part of the East Lancashire Railway. It serves the small village of Irwell Vale in Lancashire.-History:... Rawtenstall railway station Rawtenstall railway station serves the town of Rawtenstall in Lancashire, England, and is the northern terminus of the East Lancashire Railway. It was formerly on the national railway network and also had a connection to Bacup as well as Bury and Manchester.... |
| Ringwood Ringwood Ringwood is a historic market town and civil parish in Hampshire, England, located on the River Avon, close to the New Forest and north of Bournemouth. It has a history dating back to Anglo-Saxon times, and has held a weekly market since the Middle Ages.... |
to London Waterloo or London Victoria Ringwood, Christchurch and Bournemouth Railway | 70 | 1 |
Ringwood railway station Ringwood is a closed railway station in the county of Hampshire which served the town of Ringwood. It lay on the former Southampton and Dorchester Railway, the original main line from Brockenhurst to Dorchester... |
| Skelmersdale Skelmersdale Skelmersdale is a town in West Lancashire, England. It lies on high-ground on the River Tawd, to the west of Wigan, to the northeast of Liverpool, south-southwest of Preston. As of 2006, Skelmersdale had a population of 38,813, down from 41,000 in 2004. The town is known locally as Skem.The... |
Ormskirk Ormskirk railway station Ormskirk railway station is situated in the town of Ormskirk, Lancashire, England. The station is an interchange between Merseyrail services from Liverpool Central and Northern Rail services from Preston... to Skelmersdale railway station Skelmersdale Skelmersdale is a town in West Lancashire, England. It lies on high-ground on the River Tawd, to the west of Wigan, to the northeast of Liverpool, south-southwest of Preston. As of 2006, Skelmersdale had a population of 38,813, down from 41,000 in 2004. The town is known locally as Skem.The... via Skelmersdale Branch Skelmersdale Branch The Skelmersdale Branch railway connected the Liverpool, Ormskirk and Preston Railway at Ormskirk with Rainford Junction . At Rainford it connected with the Liverpool and Bury Railway and the St. Helens Railway. It was built by the East Lancashire Railway, which was taken over by the Lancashire... |
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Skelmersdale railway station Skelmersdale railway station was a station located on the Skelmersdale Branch at Skelmersdale, England. The station was originally named Blague Gate, having its name changed to Skelmersdale on 8 August 1874.-Recreation proposals:... |
| Washington Washington, Tyne and Wear Washington is a town in the City of Sunderland in Tyne and Wear, England. Historically part of County Durham, it joined a new county in 1974 with the creation of Tyne and Wear... |
Newcastle Newcastle Central station Newcastle railway station , is the mainline station of the city of Newcastle upon Tyne, England and is a principal stop on the East Coast Main Line. It opened in 1850 and is a Grade I listed building... – Manchester Airport Manchester Airport railway station Manchester Airport railway station is the railway station that serves Manchester Airport and is built into the airport's terminal buildings. The station was opened together with the second airport terminal in 1993.- Description:... Leamside Line |
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| Wisbech Wisbech Wisbech is a market town, inland port and civil parish with a population of 20,200 in the Fens of Cambridgeshire. The tidal River Nene runs through the centre of the town and is spanned by two bridges... |
Wisbech – March March railway station March railway station serves the town of March in Cambridgeshire, England. The station is east of Peterborough on the Ely to Peterborough Line.... – Peterborough Peterborough railway station Peterborough railway station serves the city of Peterborough, England. It is located approximately north of London Kings Cross on the East Coast Main Line... Wisbech and March Bramley Line |
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Wisbech Wisbech is a market town, inland port and civil parish with a population of 20,200 in the Fens of Cambridgeshire. The tidal River Nene runs through the centre of the town and is spanned by two bridges... ) |
Marked out for additional mention was the reopening of Portishead railway station
Portishead railway station
Portishead railway station was opened by the Bristol and Portishead Pier and Railway in 1867; it was approximately from the village of Portishead. After the opening of the Pier in 1870, the line was extended with an additional railway station opened by the pier...
on an existing freight route, which, although determined as having a BCR of 0.6, it was believed this would be raised above 1.0 if evaluated based upon up to date figures, due on very high local population growth post-2001, and heavy traffic congestion at Junction 19 of the M5 Motorway
M5 motorway
The M5 is a motorway in England. It runs from a junction with the M6 at West Bromwich near Birmingham to Exeter in Devon. Heading south-west, the M5 runs east of West Bromwich and west of Birmingham through Sandwell Valley...
.
Proposed parkway stations
The report identified seven possible locations for new Park and RidePark and ride
Park and ride facilities are car parks with connections to public transport that allow commuters and other people wishing to travel into city centres to leave their vehicles and transfer to a bus, rail system , or carpool for the rest of their trip...
stations (a.k.a. Parkway stations) to be built on existing passenger lines, to serve communities with a population of 15,000 or more. These schemes all had Benefit-cost ratio
Benefit-cost ratio
A benefit-cost ratio is an indicator, used in the formal discipline of cost-benefit analysis, that attempts to summarize the overall value for money of a project or proposal. A BCR is the ratio of the benefits of a project or proposal, expressed in monetary terms, relative to its costs, also...
s (BCRs) of over 1.7, up to 10.2. The locations are as follows:
| Location | Line | Estimated capital cost |
|---|---|---|
| Rushden Parkway Rushden Parkway railway station Rushden Parkway railway station is a proposed new railway station to serve the towns of Rushden and Higham Ferrers and the large village of Irchester in Northamptonshire. The two towns and village have not seen passenger rail services since 1959. The former station building at Rushden has been... (See Rushden Rushden Rushden is a town and civil parish in the county of Northamptonshire, England.The parish of Rushden covers an area of some and is part of the district of East Northamptonshire. The population of Rushden was estimated at around 28,368, making it the fifth largest town in the county... ) |
Midland Main Line Midland Main Line The Midland Main Line is a major railway route in the United Kingdom, part of the British railway system.The present-day line links London St... (On site of former Irchester railway station Irchester railway station Irchester railway station was built by the Midland Railway in 1857 on its extension from to and .The station building was built on an overbridge. It closed for passenger traffic in 1960, and for goods in 1965.... ) |
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| Peterlee Parkway (See Peterlee Peterlee Peterlee is a new town in County Durham, England. Founded in 1948, Peterlee town originally mostly housed coal miners and their families.Peterlee has strong economic and community ties with Sunderland and Hartlepool.-Peterlee:... ) |
Durham Coast Line Durham Coast Line The Durham Coast Line is the name given to the railway line which links Newcastle upon Tyne with Middlesbrough, via Sunderland and Hartlepool... (on the former Easington Easington, County Durham Easington is a town in eastern County Durham, England. It comprises the ancient village of Easington Village and the ex-mining town of Easington Colliery, which are separate civil parishes. It is located at the junction of the A182 leading north-west to Hetton-le-Hole. Seaham Harbour and... station site) |
2 |
| Kenilworth Parkway Kenilworth railway station Kenilworth railway station on the Coventry to Leamington line was a railway station in Kenilworth, Warwickshire, England, opened in 1844 and closed in 1965 under the Beeching Axe, when the line was closed to passengers. Passenger services over the line restarted in the 1980s but the station was not... (See Kenilworth Kenilworth Kenilworth is a town in central Warwickshire, England. In 2001 the town had a population of 22,582 . It is situated south of Coventry, north of Warwick and northwest of London.... ) |
Coventry to Leamington line Coventry to Leamington line The Coventry to Leamington Line is a railway line linking the city of Coventry with the town of Leamington Spa. The line was opened in 1844 by the LNWR. A connecting line to Berkswell opened in 1884.... (See also Kenilworth railway station Kenilworth railway station Kenilworth railway station on the Coventry to Leamington line was a railway station in Kenilworth, Warwickshire, England, opened in 1844 and closed in 1965 under the Beeching Axe, when the line was closed to passengers. Passenger services over the line restarted in the 1980s but the station was not... ) |
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| Ilkeston Parkway (See Ilkeston Ilkeston Ilkeston is a town within the Borough of Erewash, in Derbyshire, England. It lies on the River Erewash, from which the local borough takes its name. Its population at the 2001 census was 37,550... ) |
Midland Main Line Midland Main Line The Midland Main Line is a major railway route in the United Kingdom, part of the British railway system.The present-day line links London St... (on the site of the former Ilkeston Junction and Cossall railway station Ilkeston Junction and Cossall railway station Ilkeston Junction and Cossall railway station was a railway station which served the town of Ilkeston in Derbyshire, England. It was opened in 1847 by the Midland Railway on the Erewash Valley Line at the junction of a short branch to the town itself.... ) |
3 |
| Clay Cross/North Wingfield Parkway (See Clay Cross Clay Cross Clay Cross is a former mining town and civil parish in the North East Derbyshire district of Derbyshire, England, about six miles south of Chesterfield. It is directly on the A61, the former Roman road Ryknield Street... and North Wingfield North Wingfield North Wingfield is a large village in the English county of Derbyshire, located approximately 4½ miles south-east of Chesterfield, and 1 mile north-east of Clay Cross. It is in the North East Derbyshire district... ) |
Erewash Valley Line Erewash Valley Line The Erewash Valley Line is a railway line in Britain running from south of Chesterfield along the Erewash Valley to Trent Junction at Long Eaton, joining the Midland Main Line at each end.- History :... |
3 |
| Ossett Parkway (See Ossett Ossett Ossett is a market town within the metropolitan borough of the City of Wakefield, in West Yorkshire, England. It is located on junction 40 of the M1 motorway, half-way between Dewsbury, to the west, and Wakefield, to the east. In the 2001 census, it was classified as part of the West Yorkshire... ) |
Huddersfield Line Huddersfield Line The Huddersfield Line is the name given to one of the busiest rail services on the West Yorkshire MetroTrain network in northern England. Local services are operated by Northern Rail with longer distance services operated by TransPennine Express... (within the Healey Mills rail yard site) |
2 |
| Wantage/Grove Parkway (See Wantage Wantage Wantage is a market town and civil parish in the Vale of the White Horse, Oxfordshire, England. The town is on Letcombe Brook, about south-west of Abingdon and a similar distance west of Didcot.... and Grove Grove, Oxfordshire Grove is a village and civil parish on Letcombe Brook about north of Wantage in the Vale of White Horse. It was part of Berkshire until the 1974 boundary changes transferred it to Oxfordshire.-Parish churches:... ) |
Great Western Main Line Great Western Main Line The Great Western Main Line is a main line railway in Great Britain that runs westwards from London Paddington station to the west of England and South Wales. The core Great Western Main Line runs from London Paddington to Temple Meads railway station in Bristol. A major branch of the Great... (See also the former Wantage Road railway station Wantage Road railway station Wantage Road railway station was on the Great Western Main Line in the Vale of White Horse. The station was actually at the village of Grove, Oxfordshire, more than two miles north of Wantage, and was sometimes referred to as Grove railway station... ) |
4 |
List of proposed new stations
- Ashby de la ZouchAshby de la Zouch railway stationAshby de la Zouch railway station was a railway station at Ashby-de-la-Zouch in Leicestershire on the Leicester to Burton upon Trent Line. The Midland Railway opened it on 1849 and British Railways closed it on 1964....
- AshingtonAshington railway stationAshington railway station was a station serving the town of Ashington in Northumberland, Northern England. It was on the branch to Newbiggin-by-the-Sea....
- Bagworth (See BagworthBagworthBagworth is a village in Leicestershire, England, west of Leicester.-History:There are records of the manor of Bagworth from the early 14th and early 15th centuries, when it was held by the same feudal lords as the neighbouring manor of Thornton....
) - Bedlington (See BedlingtonBedlingtonBedlington is a town in Northumberland, to the north of the Tyne and Wear urban area. It lies north of Newcastle and southeast of the county town of Morpeth. Other nearby places include Ashington to the north northeast, Blyth to the east and Cramlington to the south.The parish of Bedlington...
) - Bordon (See BordonBordonBordon is a town in the East Hampshire district of Hampshire, England. It lies 5.4 miles southeast of Alton and forms a part of the civil parish of Whitehill, the adjoining village. Both settlements are on the A325 road and close to the A3 road between London and Portsmouth...
) - BramleyBramley (Hampshire) railway stationBramley railway station is a railway station in the village of Bramley, Hampshire, England.The station is served by First Great Western — local services. The station is north of Basingstoke. The line opened in 1848 but Bramley station did not open until 1895.-Services:From Mondays to Saturdays...
- BrownhillsBrownhills railway stationBrownhills railway station was a station on the South Staffordshire Line in England. It was opened in 1849. It closed as part of the Beeching Axe in 1965...
- Bury (Bolton Street)Bury Bolton Street railway stationBury Bolton Street railway station is a railway station in Bury, Greater Manchester.- History :It was formerly the main station serving the town, with links north to Ramsbottom, thence via Stubbins Junction either to Rawtenstall and Bacup or to Haslingden and Accrington; and south to Radcliffe...
- CoalvilleCoalville Town railway stationCoalville Town was a railway station at Coalville in Leicestershire on the Leicester to Burton upon Trent Line. The Midland Railway opened the station in 1894 and British Railways closed it on 7th September 1964....
- Churston (for Brixham)Churston railway stationChurston railway station is on the Paignton and Dartmouth Steam Railway, a heritage railway in Torbay, Devon, England. It is on the main road to Brixham and close to the villages of Galmpton and Churston Ferrers.-Before preservation:...
- Clay Cross/North Wingfield Parkway (See Clay CrossClay CrossClay Cross is a former mining town and civil parish in the North East Derbyshire district of Derbyshire, England, about six miles south of Chesterfield. It is directly on the A61, the former Roman road Ryknield Street...
and North WingfieldNorth WingfieldNorth Wingfield is a large village in the English county of Derbyshire, located approximately 4½ miles south-east of Chesterfield, and 1 mile north-east of Clay Cross. It is in the North East Derbyshire district...
) - CranleighCranleigh railway stationCranleigh was a railway station on the Cranleigh Line which served the village of Cranleigh. Opening in 1865 as "Cranley", its name was changed in 1867 to "Cranleigh" at the request of the Postmaster General as badly addressed letters to "Cranley" were often mistaken for "Crawley" and vice versa...
- FleetwoodFleetwood railway stationThere have been three locations for Fleetwood railway station in Fleetwood, Lancashire, England. The first, from 1840 to 1883, was in Dock Street, opposite Church Street. The second, from 1883 to 1966, was in Queen's Terrace...
- Goodrington SandsGoodrington Sands railway stationGoodrington Sands railway station is on the Paignton and Dartmouth Steam Railway, a heritage railway in Devon, England. It is close to Goodrington beach and the Quay West Water Park in Paignton.-History:...
- Gresley (for Swadlincote) (See SwadlincoteSwadlincoteSwadlincote is a town and unparished area in South Derbyshire, about southeast of Burton-upon-Trent and about south of Derby. It is the main town of South Derbyshire and the seat of South Derbyshire District Council....
) - HeywoodHeywood railway stationHeywood railway station serves the town of Heywood in Greater Manchester, England. The original station opened on the national rail network in 1841 and closed in 1970. It re-opened on 6 September 2003 as an extension of the East Lancashire Railway from Bury Bolton Street...
- HytheHythe (Hampshire) railway stationHythe railway station was an intermediate station on the Totton, Hythe and Fawley Light Railway, which was built along the coast of Southampton Water to connect and and to provide a freight link to Fawley Refinery.-History:...
(See Hythe, HampshireHythe, HampshireHythe is a village near Southampton, Hampshire, England. It is located by the shore of Southampton Water, and has a ferry service connecting it to Southampton...
) - Ilkeston Parkway (See IlkestonIlkestonIlkeston is a town within the Borough of Erewash, in Derbyshire, England. It lies on the River Erewash, from which the local borough takes its name. Its population at the 2001 census was 37,550...
) - Irwell ValeIrwell Vale railway stationIrwell Vale railway station is a brand new station built as part of the East Lancashire Railway. It serves the small village of Irwell Vale in Lancashire.-History:...
- Kenilworth Parkway (See KenilworthKenilworthKenilworth is a town in central Warwickshire, England. In 2001 the town had a population of 22,582 . It is situated south of Coventry, north of Warwick and northwest of London....
) - Kirby MuxloeKirby Muxloe railway stationKirby Muxloe railway station was a station on the Midland Railway line between and that bypassed part of the Leicester and Swannington Railway in Leicestershire, England.The Midland opened line through Kirby Muxloe in 1848...
- Moira (see Moira, LeicestershireMoira, LeicestershireMoira is a former mining village about west of Ashby-de-la-Zouch in North West Leicestershire, England. The village is about miles south of the Derbyshire town of Swadlincote and is close to the county boundary....
) - Newsham (for Blyth) (See BlythBlyth, NorthumberlandBlyth is a town and civil parish in southeast Northumberland, England. It lies on the coast, to the south of the River Blyth and is approximately 21 kilometres northeast of Newcastle upon Tyne...
) - Ossett Parkway (See OssettOssettOssett is a market town within the metropolitan borough of the City of Wakefield, in West Yorkshire, England. It is located on junction 40 of the M1 motorway, half-way between Dewsbury, to the west, and Wakefield, to the east. In the 2001 census, it was classified as part of the West Yorkshire...
) - PelsallPelsall railway stationPelsall railway station was a station on the South Staffordshire Line. It was opened in 1849. It closed as part of the Beeching Axe in 1965. The station was built and served by the South Staffordshire Railway, which later became London, Midland and Scottish Railway .This was one of the three closed...
- Peterlee Parkway (See PeterleePeterleePeterlee is a new town in County Durham, England. Founded in 1948, Peterlee town originally mostly housed coal miners and their families.Peterlee has strong economic and community ties with Sunderland and Hartlepool.-Peterlee:...
) - PortisheadPortishead railway stationPortishead railway station was opened by the Bristol and Portishead Pier and Railway in 1867; it was approximately from the village of Portishead. After the opening of the Pier in 1870, the line was extended with an additional railway station opened by the pier...
- RamsbottomRamsbottom railway stationRamsbottom railway station serves the town of Ramsbottom in Greater Manchester, England.-History:The station was built by the East Lancashire Railway and opened on 28 September 1846...
- RawtenstallRawtenstall railway stationRawtenstall railway station serves the town of Rawtenstall in Lancashire, England, and is the northern terminus of the East Lancashire Railway. It was formerly on the national railway network and also had a connection to Bacup as well as Bury and Manchester....
- RingwoodRingwood railway stationRingwood is a closed railway station in the county of Hampshire which served the town of Ringwood. It lay on the former Southampton and Dorchester Railway, the original main line from Brockenhurst to Dorchester...
- Rushden ParkwayRushden Parkway railway stationRushden Parkway railway station is a proposed new railway station to serve the towns of Rushden and Higham Ferrers and the large village of Irchester in Northamptonshire. The two towns and village have not seen passenger rail services since 1959. The former station building at Rushden has been...
(See RushdenRushdenRushden is a town and civil parish in the county of Northamptonshire, England.The parish of Rushden covers an area of some and is part of the district of East Northamptonshire. The population of Rushden was estimated at around 28,368, making it the fifth largest town in the county...
) - Seaton Delaval (See Seaton DelavalSeaton DelavalSeaton Delaval is a village in Northumberland, England, with a population of 4,371. It is the largest of the five villages in Seaton Valley and is the site of Seaton Delaval Hall, the masterpiece completed by Sir John Vanbrugh in 1727....
) - SkelmersdaleSkelmersdale railway stationSkelmersdale railway station was a station located on the Skelmersdale Branch at Skelmersdale, England. The station was originally named Blague Gate, having its name changed to Skelmersdale on 8 August 1874.-Recreation proposals:...
- SummerseatSummerseat railway stationSummerseat railway station serves the village of Summerseat in Greater Manchester, England. It is part of the East Lancashire Railway.-External links:...
- Thornton (See Thornton, LancashireThornton, LancashireThornton is a village on the Fylde, in Lancashire, England, about four miles north of Blackpool and two miles south of Fleetwood. It is in the Borough of Wyre...
) - Wantage/Grove Parkway (See WantageWantageWantage is a market town and civil parish in the Vale of the White Horse, Oxfordshire, England. The town is on Letcombe Brook, about south-west of Abingdon and a similar distance west of Didcot....
and GroveGrove, OxfordshireGrove is a village and civil parish on Letcombe Brook about north of Wantage in the Vale of White Horse. It was part of Berkshire until the 1974 boundary changes transferred it to Oxfordshire.-Parish churches:...
) - Washington (See WashingtonWashington, Tyne and WearWashington is a town in the City of Sunderland in Tyne and Wear, England. Historically part of County Durham, it joined a new county in 1974 with the creation of Tyne and Wear...
- Westhead (possible addition to the Skelmersdale scheme)
- Wisbech Town (See WisbechWisbechWisbech is a market town, inland port and civil parish with a population of 20,200 in the Fens of Cambridgeshire. The tidal River Nene runs through the centre of the town and is spanned by two bridges...
) - Wisbech Parkway (See WisbechWisbechWisbech is a market town, inland port and civil parish with a population of 20,200 in the Fens of Cambridgeshire. The tidal River Nene runs through the centre of the town and is spanned by two bridges...
)
Proposed link lines
The ATOCAssociation of Train Operating Companies
The Association of Train Operating Companies is a body which represents 24 train operating companies that provide passenger railway services on the privatised British railway system. It owns the National Rail brand. The Association is an unincorporated association owned by its members...
report also identified 16 new 'link lines' on the existing rail network where new passenger services could be run as part of National Rail
National Rail
National Rail is a title used by the Association of Train Operating Companies as a generic term to define the passenger rail services operated in Great Britain...
services, but without implementing new stations. These would bring the benefit of providing new journey opportunities for passengers, as well as more options for diversionary routes for traffic the national network
Network Rail
Network Rail is the government-created owner and operator of most of the rail infrastructure in Great Britain .; it is not responsible for railway infrastructure in Northern Ireland...
. None of these served populations over 15,000, and as such none of the link lines were evaluated for a specific benefit-cost ratio
Benefit-cost ratio
A benefit-cost ratio is an indicator, used in the formal discipline of cost-benefit analysis, that attempts to summarize the overall value for money of a project or proposal. A BCR is the ratio of the benefits of a project or proposal, expressed in monetary terms, relative to its costs, also...
(BCR). The links identified were as follows:
- Bishop Stortford – Braintree – ColchesterBishop's Stortford-Braintree Branch LineThe Bishop's Stortford-Braintree Branch Line was a long line connecting the towns of Bishop's Stortford, Dunmow and Braintree.-History:Originally proposed to Eastern Counties Railway in 1859, the line from Bishop's Stortford, Dunmow and Braintree was eventually built by Great Eastern Railway who...
- Burscough Curves
- Chessington S – Leatherhead
- Glazebrook – Partington
- Lewes – UckfieldWealden LineTaking its name from its route through the chalk hills of the North and South Downs of the Weald, England, the Wealden Line is a partly abandoned double track railway line in East Sussex and Kent that connected Lewes with Tunbridge Wells, a distance of ....
- Matlock – BuxtonManchester, Buxton, Matlock and Midlands Junction RailwayThe Manchester, Buxton, Matlock and Midland Junction Railway ran from a junction with the Midland Railway at Ambergate to Rowsley north of Matlock and thence to Buxton....
- March – Spalding
- Oxford – BletchleyVarsity LineThe Varsity Line is an informal name for the railway route that formerly linked the English university cities of Oxford and Cambridge, operated successively by the London and North Western Railway, the London, Midland and Scottish Railway, and British Railways...
with Manton curve - Northampton – BedfordBedford to Northampton LineThe Bedford to Northampton Line was a branch of the Midland Railway which served stations in three counties: Northampton and Horton in Northamptonshire, Olney in Buckinghamshire and Turvey and Bedford in Bedfordshire, England...
- Rugby - PeterboroughNorthampton and Peterborough RailwayThe Northampton and Peterborough Railway was an early railway promoted by the London and Birmingham Railway to run from a junction at Blisworth to Northampton and Peterborough.-Origin:...
- Skipton – ColneLeeds and Bradford Extension RailwayThe Leeds and Bradford Extension Railway was an early British railway company in the West Riding of Yorkshire. It built a line from near Bradford through and to...
- Stafford – Wellington
- Stourbridge – WalsallSouth Staffordshire LineThe South Staffordshire Line was a railway line that connected Lichfield in Staffordshire, England with Dudley, formerly in Worcestershire. However, it joined the Oxford, Worcester and Wolverhampton Railway's line just north of Dudley Station, where it, in essence, continued to Stourbridge, in...
- Whelley Lines
- Willingdon Chord
- Woodhead RouteWoodhead LineThe Woodhead Line was a railway line linking Sheffield, Penistone and Manchester in the north of England. A key feature of the route is the passage under the high moorlands of the northern Peak District through the Woodhead Tunnels...
See also
- List of British towns with no railway station
- List of closed railway stations in Britain
- Rail transport in Great BritainRail transport in Great BritainThe railway system in Great Britain is the oldest in the world, with the world's first locomotive-hauled public railway opening in 1825. As of 2010, it consists of of standard gauge lines , of which are electrified. These lines range from single to double, triple, quadruple track and up to twelve...