Spotlight on East coast rail route investment (From York Press)
Get in touch: send your photos, videos, news & views by texting YORK to 80360 or send an email»
Spotlight on East coast rail route investment
8:34am Wednesday 28th November 2012 in News
COUNCIL leaders from towns and cities along the East Coast Main Line have met in York to mark out priorities for investing in the rail route.
The first meeting of the representatives from local authorities from Stevenage to Scotland was held last month after being instigated by City of York Council leader James Alexander, coinciding with the Department for Transport confirming the franchise for the line would not be put on hold.
The councils, who met again yesterday, have teamed up to “present a strong position” to the Government and call for improvements to the route’s infrastructure so it can cope with demand. Coun Alexander said: “York has very close ties with the railway and the rail industry, and for the first time local authorities have come together to lobby for the future of the line.
“We are making a difference, as since our first meeting Transport Minister Norman Baker said the Government was now playing its part to increase capacity on the route over the next two years.”
Coun Alexander said the councils were looking to identify ways of working together to maximise the economic benefits of the line, and are seeking “fuller involvement” in the process to decide who takes on the franchise.
Comments(9)
old_geezer
says...
9:41am Wed 28 Nov 12
Gladys Cheesepick
says...
9:58am Wed 28 Nov 12
Yes to both.
Regards
Gladys Cheesepick
says...
9:59am Wed 28 Nov 12
Ignatius Lumpopo
says...
11:11am Wed 28 Nov 12
Capt. Dobie
says...
12:00pm Wed 28 Nov 12
And also a carriage for Geordie/ Maccam/ Sanddancer/ Monkeyhanger drunkards swearing their way to York for whatever reason at 9.30am...I always enjoy explaining to my 3 yr old what that word the loud lady said means.
A family carriage perhaps, or seat bookings that work and don't get 'stolen', but certainly more room.
babmed
says...
5:09pm Wed 28 Nov 12
.edu.iq/scientific-v
ice
Caecilius
says...
5:16pm Wed 28 Nov 12
Magicman!
says...
2:07am Sat 1 Dec 12
The class 91 electric loco's and the Mk4 carriages that make up the electric trains have had plans drawn up for a full refurbishment - the 91's will get a second pantograph fitted so that if the primary one gets ripped off on the wires the secondary one will go up and the train will continue.
Capacity issues that could be looked at include the flat crossways at Newark, as this reduces capacity on both lines significantly. In addition, building platforms at Northallerton Low Level would increase capacity as Middlesbrough and Sunderland services could use those platforms thereby freeing up the mainline for faster trains to go past whilst a train was waiting at low level.
pedalling paul says...
9:10am Wed 28 Nov 12
The level of service that East Coast & others can run depends on track capacity, and also the incredibly high cost of leasing the trains that they use.