Railwatch

Published by Railfuture

Railwatch is the quarterly magazine of Railfuture, which is free to members.


Non-members can subscribe to Railwatch, receiving it by post.

Subscribe

Railwatch 087 - March 2001

Railwatch - Regional Rail

By Ian Walker (ian.walker2@virgin.net)

The Rail Passenger Partnership fund is designed to give initial support to rail passenger schemes which may be slow to start, the Regional Rail 2000 conference heard.

The partnerships usually involve the local authority and always a sponsoring Train Operating Company. Schemes are evaluated using cash flow predictions and the financial risk is borne by the Train Operating Company, an SRA spokesman told the conference at York in November.

However, benefits are not restricted to the fare income; traffic decongestion, accident reduction and local economy boost may all be taken into account.

The scheme is managed by the Strategic Rail Authority and in some cases competes with the refranchising process for Train Operating Company resources. However, Northern Spirit has been one of the most successful bidders for Partnership funding.

Some suggestions are made for improvements to the scheme but as usefully, examples of successful schemes Bikes and Trains, the Anglia Crosslink service from Colchester to Basingstoke and a project to improve station access are described in the paper.

The voluntary sector was considered important in identifying imaginative schemes proactively, influencing partners and generating support.

The conference - organised by TR&IN - was also attended by representatives from trainmakers Alstom and Adtranz, and Railtrack.

Railtrack is the biggest partner in Sunderland Direct, the Metro extension scheme which will bring improved travel opportunities for many in the Tyne & Wear area and will enhance social and economic opportunities, supporting the overall development of the region.

Four stations will be improved and eight new ones provided. The system, due to start trial running later this year will be unique operationally in the UK and has already attracted worldwide interest.

Note: contact details (postal and email addresses, along with telephone numbers) in old editions of Railwatch out of date. Click CONTACT US for latest contact details.


[Issue 87 Index]

[Railwatch Home] [Prev Issue (86)] [Railwatch Issues] [RIS Progress Reports] [SRUBLUK Progress Reports] [Next Issue (88)] [Railfuture Home]


Rail users are encouraged to join Railfuture to help us campaign for a bigger and better railway - membership for individuals is just £20 per year

Railfuture is an independent, voluntary group representing rail users in Britain with 20,000 affiliated and individual members. It is not funded by train companies, political parties or trade unions, and all members have an equal say.

Railfuture campaigns for cheap and convenient rail services for everyone; better links for buses, bikes and pedestrians; policies to get more heavy lorries on to rail; new lines, stations and freight terminals. In short, a better rail service and a bigger rail system for both passengers and freight.

Railfuture is pro-rail but not anti-road or anti-air. However, we campaign for a switch from road and air to rail. We do not interfere in the running of the railway - we campaign for the quality and range of services provided, not how they are delivered. We are the only champion of all rail users.


Railfuture is the campaigning name of Railfuture Ltd.

A not-for-profit Company Limited by Guarantee.

Registered in England and Wales No. 05011634.

Registered Office: Edinburgh House, 1-5 Bellevue Road, Clevedon, North Somerset BS21 7NP (for legal correspondence only).

All other correspondence to 14 Ghent Field Circle, Thurston, Suffolk IP31 3UP


© Copyright Railfuture Ltd 2024.

Railfuture is happy for extracts to be used by journalists, researchers and students. We would, however, appreciate a mention of Railfuture in any article, website or programme. Except with Railfuture's express written permission, no one should distribute or commercially exploit the content.


Privacy Statement

Click Privacy to read Railfuture's GDPR statement on how we treat your data.

08.03.2024

This site does not use its own cookies, although Google Analytics does. Hosted by TSO Host (cPanel) and maintained for Railfuture by Billing Specialists Ltd.