Posted 22nd August 2024 | 3 Comments
Report urges new consistent approach to improving transport
Lack of consistency has hampered improvements to transport in Britain, according to a new report. It warns that there is a unique opportunity to make projects more efficient and less costly, which may not come again.
The report, from Arup and the Urban Transport Group, sets out a new plan for developing transport over the next 50 years, and as a start it proposes creating a Transport Strategy for England. It also voices strong support for private sector companies working in partnership with the state.
The Rail and Urban Transport Review was commissioned by the Labour Party while it was in opposition in December 2023, and has been led by former Siemens chief executive Juergen Maier.
He was assisted by a panel from the transport industry, who included Northern Powerhouse chief executive Henri Murison, former Transport for Greater Manchester chief operating officer Bob Morris and Nicola Smith, who is the head of economics, employment rights and social affairs at the Trade Union Congress.
Juergen Maier saId: ‘We have an important moment to reimagine a better connected, more affordable and high-capacity transport network of the future. There is no long-term plan, especially beyond parliamentary terms, and the recent unprecedented level of policy “chop and change” has created significant ambiguity in the sector, raised costs and held back investment. Despite the lack of a plan and current low confidence levels in our transport sector from both investors and passengers, there is a strong desire and a willingness within the sector to do significantly better.’
The conclusions of the panel have been expressed in five ‘key themes’. These are a ‘bold long-term vision’ accompanied by an ‘ambitious national transport strategy’, developing a ‘Greener, Faster, Cheaper’ way of building transport infrastructure, ‘harnessing the benefits’ of public-private partnerships, making sure that the new strategy for transport is in accordance with plans for industry and housing, and listening to the veiws of transport users and workers.
Transport secretary Louise Haigh has given her support, saying: ‘Fourteen years of Conservative government left the public sick and tired of broken promises on transport infrastructure. This independent expert-led review provides a comprehensive assessment of the challenges and opportunities we face in delivering transport infrastructure in Britain, and will help inform this new Government’s thinking.
‘We are clear that we will deliver value for the taxpayer while turbocharging delivery of transport projects. That’s how you grow the economy in every corner of the country, and deliver the transport network that modern Britain needs.’
The report has also been welcomed by the Railway Industry Association and the Campaign for Better Transport.
RIA chief executive Darren Caplan said: ‘The Railway Industry Association and our members welcome this transport infrastructure review, and will work with industry colleagues to implement its rail recommendations. We and the wider rail supply sector stand ready to play our part.’
CBT chief executive Paul Tuohy said: ‘The recommendations made in this review offer a bold vision for how the Government could expand public transport use while delivering on its commitments to economic growth, social inclusion and decarbonisation. We especially welcome the recommendations for ambitious targets to increase public transport journeys and get the necessary infrastructure built as this is something we have long called for.’
Reader Comments:
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david C smith, Bletchley
Some questions re. this approach.
Can any individuals or groups plan years into the future , "into the unknown"?
If "yes", who should be involved in this exercise ?
Parliament seems too busy on many other questions to give effective ,long term accountability to rail passengers / freight users.
Parliaments are normally in power for 5 years or less. How can we get around the need for stable conditions over the longer term ?
Whether TOCs can plan longer term , in either private or public sectors, without constraints from Whitehall and Westminster is another query. Over the era from the mid 1990's , we have had , starting with the Strategic Rail Authority , a series of quango's attempting this.
As we have witnessed, this essentially "command and control" approach seems to an extent to set up a clash between operators' own thinking and that of government. Could we bring operators' desires and those of government together in a more cooperative way, by changing from an adversarial relationship to one that involves replacing "control" with incentivisation via subsidies and charges, to represent "hidden" costs and benefits that are not usually taken into account as "market forces" ; then give operator management a free hand.
The situation for rail in the USA was becoming pretty dire over the 1960's and 70's, until an act of government did away with most of the controls that government had had over the operators ; the operators currently seem to have fully recovered.
Neil Palmer, Waterloo
A good start would be announcing that HS2 Phase 2a will go ahead. It might save the dog's breakfast that HS2 has become from being a complete white elephant.
Martin marrison, HAYWARDS HEATH
Surely there should be a rolling program of electrification not big projects but smaller infills where the work can be carried out over a longer period of time to keep a dedicated team employed. Some examples in the south that stick out are Uckfield Oxted, Ashford to Hastings and the gaps in Redhill to Guildford.
My understanding is that 3rd rail extensions are now allowed and these would free up DMU for strengthening other services rather than trying to get rolling stock providers to pay for new diesels?
I assume there are similar projects elsewhere in the country that could benifit with this approach?