Exclusive by Mike Laycock

Rail bosses have unveiled a dramatic blueprint to upgrade the East Coast Main Line before it is crippled by its own success.

York-based Railtrack London North Eastern is warning that the route is rapidly running out of space after "phenomenal" growth in passengers and freight.

In a brochure going out next week to hundreds of MPs, MEPs, rail user groups and local authorities along the route, it says that a large number of bottlenecks on the line mean it can barely cope with present timetables.

"The bottlenecks give little or no leeway to deal with late-running services or to recover from incidents," says the company.

And unless there is major investment in route facilities and capacity, train punctuality will deteriorate because of overloaded infrastructure, and passengers and freight will be turned away by overcrowding.

"The existing route infrastructure cannot handle most of the extra business now forecast. Time is becoming desperately short for a decision on the future of the route."

Passenger numbers have shot up by 17 per cent in two years on trains run by York-based Great North Eastern Railway trains, while a 200 per cent increase in freight in ten years is anticipated.

The company's proposed investments, expected to cost between £850 million and £1.2 billion, include:

Upgraded high capability freight routes, including a section between York and Doncaster, to take some freight off the main line.

Station and junction improvements at key points including York and Northallerton.

Railway flyovers at Doncaster and Newark.

More tracks on sections of the route north of London and south of Peterborough.

Railtrack would raise some of the cash but also seek funding from other sources, saying it wants to explore the possibilities of partnerships with local authorities and regional development bodies. In York, the city council is seeking Government funding to help finance the re-opening of commuter stations at Strensall and Haxby.

Railtrack says not everyone will be delighted by all its proposals. "Many people who live close to the ECML or the upgraded freight routes will oppose these developments strenuously."

see COMMENT 'Give Railtrack the green light'

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