Ok the economic recovery and investment in rail development over the past nineteen years has developed this sector into one where now with public sector investment cuts the way to sustain investment and offer a return for hard pressed savers in this country is UK and devolved government bond / guild issues listed on the stock exchange to augment the revenue stream for government and build on the work of groups such as Passenger Focus and Rail Future. The UK state has the experience with the opening and re-electrification of lines in Scotland and Wales, trams in Birmingham and Manchester as well as a new one in Nottingham. The TfL area has had investment that has delivered new rolling stock (the London Overgound 378 and 172 / 372 inner london services).
Such investment mechanisms could deliver more of these trains for improved services on existing routes around the Thameslink development and on local lines such as Chingford-Stratford and new services such as Gospel Oak to Grays (using more class 172s) and further extension of East London line services to Camden Road for interchange with the Northern Line at a reopened South Kentish Town station and a Balham / clapham Junction overgound route as well as an Outer Circle Overground line.
This could occur if the class 378s are fast enough to use the HS2-1 link line or it is built so it can be later adapted for their use after the a more direct link is later built. Hence passive provision for teh travelator, linked escalators may be needed in the design phase now.However with the abolition of the regional assembly quangos for inter agency schemes such as Croxley Rail link to occur there may need to be an English Parliament or regional grand cttes in the reformed second house if one county council by itself cannot offset the costs or return to investors. This requires a qualified financial opinion and is why TfL take the lead in the development of the rail scheme as they have the infrastructure experience.
Thursday 10 February 2011
Croxley rail link reaches development phase
The Croxley rail link scheme that would link Northwood Hills and Northwood branch of the Metroploitan line with Watford High St and Watford Junction has moved into the development phase which means that the economic case is high enough for it to be considered alongside other schemes across England.
Here is the text of the letter I have received on the subject from them as part of the Watford Rail Users group being informed:
Dear James,
We are pleased to announce that the Department for Transport (DfT) announced on the 4th February 2011 that after rigorous assessment, as part of the Coalition Government’s Comprehensive Spending Review, the Croxley Rail Link scheme has entered into the ‘Development Pool’ group of projects. This means that the DfT acknowledges that the scheme represents good value for money, and enables the Croxley Rail Link to compete with other selected projects in the development pool for funding.
Stuart Pile, Hertfordshire County Council’s Executive Member for Highways and Transport, said: “This is fantastic news for the scheme and for Hertfordshire’s residents. Securing a place in the next stage towards funding is a great achievement at a time when public finances are so tight. Hertfordshire County Council (HCC), London Underground and Network Rail will now progress towards obtaining powers to construct the scheme through the submission of a Transport and Works Act Order (TWAO).”
Following the outcome of the 2010 general election all investment decisions for local major transport schemes were put on hold pending the outcome of the Comprehensive Spending Review. The DfT announced the proposed programme for funding for the various transport schemes in October 2010 and the Croxley Rail Link was included within the 'pre-qualification group' of projects where a further preliminary assessment was required by the DfT. HCC submitted an ‘Expression of Interest’ to the DfT on 4th January 2011 which has been successful in securing progress for the scheme. The ‘Expression of Interest’ has been supported by the Elected Mayor of Watford, Dorothy Thornhill and Watford’s MP, Richard Harrington.
HCC and the other scheme partners will now focus their attention on compiling the ‘Best and Final Funding Bid’ to be submitted in September 2011 as part of the next stage in the funding process. This bid will concentrate on the high benefit to cost ratio the scheme offers and providing sustainable infrastructure for the future. In parallel continued progress is planned to fulfil the statutory process required to submit a TWAO.
The project is committed to maintaining communication with stakeholders developing the proposals for the scheme to meet the needs of the local community. A full public consultation will take place in the near future.
Kind regards,
Leonie Dubois
Consultation Manager
Croxley Rail Link
www.CroxleyRailLink.com
Here is the text of the letter I have received on the subject from them as part of the Watford Rail Users group being informed:
Dear James,
We are pleased to announce that the Department for Transport (DfT) announced on the 4th February 2011 that after rigorous assessment, as part of the Coalition Government’s Comprehensive Spending Review, the Croxley Rail Link scheme has entered into the ‘Development Pool’ group of projects. This means that the DfT acknowledges that the scheme represents good value for money, and enables the Croxley Rail Link to compete with other selected projects in the development pool for funding.
Stuart Pile, Hertfordshire County Council’s Executive Member for Highways and Transport, said: “This is fantastic news for the scheme and for Hertfordshire’s residents. Securing a place in the next stage towards funding is a great achievement at a time when public finances are so tight. Hertfordshire County Council (HCC), London Underground and Network Rail will now progress towards obtaining powers to construct the scheme through the submission of a Transport and Works Act Order (TWAO).”
Following the outcome of the 2010 general election all investment decisions for local major transport schemes were put on hold pending the outcome of the Comprehensive Spending Review. The DfT announced the proposed programme for funding for the various transport schemes in October 2010 and the Croxley Rail Link was included within the 'pre-qualification group' of projects where a further preliminary assessment was required by the DfT. HCC submitted an ‘Expression of Interest’ to the DfT on 4th January 2011 which has been successful in securing progress for the scheme. The ‘Expression of Interest’ has been supported by the Elected Mayor of Watford, Dorothy Thornhill and Watford’s MP, Richard Harrington.
HCC and the other scheme partners will now focus their attention on compiling the ‘Best and Final Funding Bid’ to be submitted in September 2011 as part of the next stage in the funding process. This bid will concentrate on the high benefit to cost ratio the scheme offers and providing sustainable infrastructure for the future. In parallel continued progress is planned to fulfil the statutory process required to submit a TWAO.
The project is committed to maintaining communication with stakeholders developing the proposals for the scheme to meet the needs of the local community. A full public consultation will take place in the near future.
Kind regards,
Leonie Dubois
Consultation Manager
Croxley Rail Link
www.CroxleyRailLink.com
Saturday 5 February 2011
Decision date looms for Watford transport projects
Watford Observer 11:13am Friday 21st January 2011
By Michael Pickard
»A final decision on whether the Croxley rail link and Watford Junction redevelopment projects will go ahead is due later this month, it has been revealed.During a debate on the Government's new White Paper on local transport, led by Transport Minister Norman baker, Watford MP Richard Harrington asked for news about when a decision might be made by the Department of Transport.
He said: “In my constituency, we have two schemes that are before the department [of transport]. As far as I can see, they are entirely compatible with creating growth and cutting carbon through their benefits to the local economy and taking people off the roads.“Those are the Croxley rail link project and the Watford Junction project. May we have a decision on them as soon as possible? I hope that my honourable friend will be favourably inclined to grant them.”
Mr Baker replied: “I can assure him that the matters to which he refers are under active consideration. A timetable has been published and we will shortly be able to give him and others in the house detailed information about the decisions to be taken.”Following the debate, Mr Harrington said he would continue to “press this issue” ahead of a decision due later this month.He said: “Since my election I have been working hard with Watford Borough Council to impress upon the Government the great benefits that these projects would bring to our town.
“We have here a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, at relatively small cost to the tax payer, to provide a regeneration of some of the poorest areas of Watford, to create long lasting transport links and bring much needed money and footfall to the town.
“I used the opportunity to speak today, to remind the minister the importance of this vital project and to urge him to make a prompt and favourable decision. I will continue to press this issue with ministers in the forthcoming days before a final decision is made.
WRUG
Watford Observer 11:13am Friday 21st January 2011
By Michael Pickard
»A final decision on whether the Croxley rail link and Watford Junction redevelopment projects will go ahead is due later this month, it has been revealed.During a debate on the Government's new White Paper on local transport, led by Transport Minister Norman baker, Watford MP Richard Harrington asked for news about when a decision might be made by the Department of Transport.
He said: “In my constituency, we have two schemes that are before the department [of transport]. As far as I can see, they are entirely compatible with creating growth and cutting carbon through their benefits to the local economy and taking people off the roads.“Those are the Croxley rail link project and the Watford Junction project. May we have a decision on them as soon as possible? I hope that my honourable friend will be favourably inclined to grant them.”
Mr Baker replied: “I can assure him that the matters to which he refers are under active consideration. A timetable has been published and we will shortly be able to give him and others in the house detailed information about the decisions to be taken.”Following the debate, Mr Harrington said he would continue to “press this issue” ahead of a decision due later this month.He said: “Since my election I have been working hard with Watford Borough Council to impress upon the Government the great benefits that these projects would bring to our town.
“We have here a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, at relatively small cost to the tax payer, to provide a regeneration of some of the poorest areas of Watford, to create long lasting transport links and bring much needed money and footfall to the town.
“I used the opportunity to speak today, to remind the minister the importance of this vital project and to urge him to make a prompt and favourable decision. I will continue to press this issue with ministers in the forthcoming days before a final decision is made.
WRUG
the progress of Croxley rail link in context.
Ok the economic recovery and investment in rail development over the past nineteen years has developed this sector into one where now with public sector investment cuts the way to sustain investment and offer a return for hard pressed savers in this country is UK and devolved government bond / guild issues listed on the stock exchange to augment the revenue stream for government and build on the work of groups such as Passenger Focus and Rail Future. The UK state has the experience with the opening and re-electrification of lines in Scotland and Wales, trams in Birmingham and Manchester as well as a new one in Nottingham. The TfL area has had investment that has delivered new rolling stock (the London Overgound 378 and 172 / 372 inner london services). Such investment mechanisms could deliver more of these trains for improved services on existing routes around the Thameslink development and on local lines such as Chingford-Stratford and new services such as Gospel Oak to Grays (using more class 172s) and further extension of East London line services to Calpham Road for interchange with the Northern Line at a reopened South Kentish Town station and a Balham / clapham Junction overgound route as well as an Outer Circle Overground line.
However with the abolition of the regional assembly quangos for inter agency schemes such as Croxley Rail link to occur there may need to be an English Parliament and regional grand cttes in the reformed second house if one county council by itself cannot offset the costs or return to investors. This requires a qualified financial opinion and is why TfL take the lead in the development of the rail scheme as they have the infrastructure and modern tachnological experience and have a dedicated website advising government as to what criteria need to be modified for it to move from pre development to development phase and for a Transport and works act to be submitted by the end of the year.
However with the abolition of the regional assembly quangos for inter agency schemes such as Croxley Rail link to occur there may need to be an English Parliament and regional grand cttes in the reformed second house if one county council by itself cannot offset the costs or return to investors. This requires a qualified financial opinion and is why TfL take the lead in the development of the rail scheme as they have the infrastructure and modern tachnological experience and have a dedicated website advising government as to what criteria need to be modified for it to move from pre development to development phase and for a Transport and works act to be submitted by the end of the year.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)