Posted 2nd April 2013 | 11 Comments
Rail in Britain 'most improved in Europe' - now business wants more spent on roads and air
AS Britain’s railways are revealed to be the most improved in Europe, a survey of British manufacturing firms has called on the government to invest more in road improvements and airports.
The EEF urged the Government to “put afterburners on transport strategy” by increasing priority for road investment, move faster on expansion at Heathrow and regional airports, and take the politics out of infrastructure issues by setting up an independent commission.
The manufacturers’ organisation EEF also called on the government to accelerate the 20-year timetable for the new HS2 high speed line, as well as do more to convince manufacturers about its benefits.
Roger Salomone, head of business environment policy at the EEF, said: “Political prevarication and policy reversals have left Britain in the slow lane of developing its infrastructure for decades. Government must reassess its investment priorities and act faster on major issues like airport capacity.”
Meanwhile, Network Rail has drawn attention to a major transport study by the European Commission.
“Britain's railways are the most improved in Europe, according to the most comprehensive comparison study yet published of the rail networks in all 27 EU countries,” said Network Rail.
The report looks at how the railways in Europe have progressed and improved since the 1990s according to a range of 14 different factors. “Britain came top in four of the factors, second and third in another two and fourth in three — coming top overall,” said Network Rail, adding: “Europe’s other big rail networks — Germany, France and Italy — came 7th, 10th and 23rd respectively.”
Network Rail's chief executive, David Higgins said: “We made clear in our five year plan published in January that we are under no illusion about the challenges that both we, and the passengers who use the railway, face on a daily basis, and the need to keep improving from the low base to which Britain's railway had sunk in the 1990s.
“We continue to work with other railways so that we can all learn from best practice in our businesses and we welcome efforts by the Commission to provide improved consistency and transparency of data.
“This report shows both the progress that we have made in driving forward our performance, and the very real challenges and opportunities that the growth in demand poses for us all. We run one of Europe’s most intense, fastest growing railways with all the implications for wear and tear as well as congestion that that implies. That is why we have made the case for sustained investment in both renewing and modernizing the railway while increasing its capacity.”
Vice-President of the Commission, Transport Commissioner Siim Kallas, said: “Europe's railways are in transition. New investment and new business models are needed to take advantage of the opportunities arising from high fuel costs, urbanisation and the need to decarbonise – and to counter the loss of government subsidies in a time of economic difficulty.
“That is why in January the Commission proposed major reforms in particular for the European passenger market. Today's report helps us compare railways across the EU in order to identify best practice. And it shows that there are many lessons to be learnt from the UK experience.”
Michael Roberts, chief executive of the Association of Train Operating Companies, said: “After decades of decline, a booming railway is generating more money to pay for improvements both now and in the future, and it is good news if others in Europe can benefit from our experience.
“But we know there is still much to improve and many challenges to meet in the coming years, so we are working hard with the rest of the industry to make rail travel more affordable and offer even more and faster services that meet passengers’ expectations.”
Graham Smith, director-general of the Rail Delivery Group said: “It is pleasing to see the UK at the top of the European rail league in so many respects. It is the job of the Rail Delivery Group to keep the UK in that position and to lead the industry in improving its placing where there are opportunities for improvement.”
Reader Comments:
Views expressed in submitted comments are that of the author, and not necessarily shared by Railnews.
Martyn, Stroud
Hey Bel you have not factored in the environmental costs of road transport and the costs of road injuries and deaths. If you take these into account then clearly the revenue from road users does not cover the costs.
The EEF is a road building lobby group who will cherry pick the data to suit its own ends
Lutz, London
@jay jay
It is most improve on a comparable basis, not absolute; so it spare a thought for rail travelers on the continent.
@Melvyn Windebank, Canvey Island, Essex
It is the other way around; rail does not pay it's way, while car fuel and road taxes are a key revenue stream that is far greater than the amount than is spent on the roads.
There will be benefits to the provinces from HS2, but most journeys are commuter trips in London and South East. Given the state of the railways in the south east, it would probably be a better use of the money to invest it in new and upgrade commuter routes into London.
Bel Eben, GB
"Well when road users start paying their FARE SHARE ( oh look another cancelled fuel duty increse!) then they can have better roads!"
Far more money is raised from road users, than is spent on roads. Road users massively cross subsidise rail users. Is there even VAT on rail tickets? I'm not sure what "FARE SHARE" means, when Ashford to London rail commuters get a £100-a-week subsidy.
Philip Russell, Carlisle
Well done to our railways but its not the road users job to subsidise rail to any greater extent than they presently do ,they allready pay far more in car tax than it costs to maintain and improve the roads plus i cant remember any major road building schemes being authorised for many many years now now ,
David Callam, Greater London
Picking up on Jak Jay's point, most improved in Europe means exactly what?
The West Coast Main Line is still a pig's breakfast - one small problem anywhere causes mass congestion everywhere else.
Thameslink 2000 is now 13 years late and unlikely to be finished before 2020.
The French can travel from one end of their country to the other in half the time it would take us to travel from London to Edinburgh or Glasgow.
London commuter services are in the hands of companies that couldn't organise a wine-tasting in a bodega.
And now the Engineering Employers Federation want to move on to build more motorways - that will fill up in next to no time - and to inflict more misery on the long-suffering residents of west London by expanding the 65-year-old planning mistake that is Heathrow Airport.
James Palma, London
Bear in mind that the phrase is 'most improved' that does not mean that it is the best or even the most efficient. In reality, if any other network in Europe had not required 'improvement' Britain would come to the top by default as it has improved.
However, as a regular rail user (for commuting and leisure) I would say that Britain's railways are not that bad, though they are expensive and the fare structures are too complicated. I prefer Chiltern Trains way of having a set structure for whenever you pay. For example if I want a ticket from London to Birmingham it is £25 off peak, if I buy it one month in advance OR on the day. Excellent!
Martin, Stratford upon Avon
@Melvyn
"Well when road users start paying their FARE SHARE ( oh look another cancelled fuel duty increse!) then they can have better roads"
You might want to check out some of the DfT data published by the Road Users Alliance as set out in the Road File 2011 document
The EEF may well have a valid point
Paul Wash, Reading
jak jay
signalling issues are comparably common throughout Europe. I used to travel from Versailles everyday into Paris Montparnasse as there were often signalling issues. Something tells me you have an axe to grind.
Leslie burge, leicester
Trackwork has clearly improved since the days of that awful Railtrack.
However there are still too many signalling and OHL problems.
More also needs to be done on railways to get freight traffic from the roads
onto rail and also internal airline passengers.
Melvyn Windebank, Canvey Island, Essex
Well when road users start paying their FARE SHARE ( oh look another cancelled fuel duty increse!) then they can have better roads!
Until then rail earns its way to expansion and upgrade a process that has now seen over 1.5 billion journeys made during the last year taking usage back to figures last seen in the 1920s and with no sign of growth slowing down!
It's worth remembering motorways were built by Ernest Marples who had business interests in road building! It's a shame High Speed Rail had not yet been invented as HS lines are basically roads with track and ballast added just think how much business he missed out on.
jak jay, leaming ton spa
Most improved in Europe? someone is having a laff! tell that to the thousands of poor commuters waiting around while 'Notwork' Rail struggles with yet another 'signalling problem' (check out the nat rail site each day)
do me a favour