TIME TO LAY THE LUCRE ON THE LINE

By the end of July 2000, the UK Government is publishing its ten-year transport strategy, which will have far-reaching implications for the railways. The author of this article argues that what the British rail industry needs most is a firm promise of adequate financing. It is about time that financial assistance for railway infrastructure was viewed as investment in a key area of the UK economy, not as subsidy. Rail is as important to this economy as financial services, and larger than the media and electricity industries. There are worthwhile returns for the UK from investment in transport projects, especially in South East England. Much more money from outside the industry is needed to make the recent growth in passenger numbers, freight volume, and investment sustainable. This has been emphasised in the report Investment, What Needs to Be Done, from the Automobile Association (AA), Confederation of British Industry (CBI), Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT), and Freight Transport Association (FTA). It calls for annual transport investment to rise from under #6000M in 1999 to #9000M by 2003 and #12,000M by 2007. The transport industry as a whole needs detailed cost-benefit analysis; the Government needs to know not only what has to be done but why. Under-investment causes many wasteful queues and delays.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/49957551
• Corporate Authors:

  RAIL PROFESSIONAL LTD

  PO BOX 77
  HORSHAM, WEST SUSSEX  United Kingdom  RH13 5QH
• Authors:
  • Clifton, P
• Publication Date: 2000-7

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: p. 10-11
• Serial:
  • Rail Professional
  • Publisher: Cambridge Publishers Limited
  • ISSN: 1476-2196
  • Serial URL: http://www.cpl.biz/ourwork/general/rp.htm

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Benefit cost analysis; Demand; Federal government; Financing; Freight transportation; Industries; Investments; Policy; Profits; Public transit; Railroad transportation; Transportation
• Uncontrolled Terms: Growth rate; Increase
• Geographic Terms: United Kingdom
• ITRD Terms: 226: Cost benefit analysis; 285: Demand (econ); 244: Financing; 741: Goods traffic; 183: Government (national); 265: Growth rate; 9032: Increase; 332: Industry; 227: Investment; 173: Policy; 217: Profit; 744: Public transport; 1173: Rail bound transport; 1155: Transport; 8119: United Kingdom
• Subject Areas: Policy; Transportation (General);

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00799678
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Files: ITRD
• Created Date: Oct 6 2000 12:00AM