Transport - Rail

Regional Issues

Derbyshire County Council has commissioned a feasibility study into the re-opening of the Derby to Manchester (Matlock-Buxton) railway line. The first stage of this study, which will examine the wider economic, environmental and engineering issues, is ongoing and is due to be completed in September 2003. If the second phase of the study goes ahead it will be carried out in spring/summer 2004.

The National Forest Line project would extend services from Leicester to Derby along the Leicester-Burton freight only line (closed to passenger traffic in 1964) and the existing Birmingham-Derby line. Leicestershire County Council was initially the lead authority, supported by Derbyshire County Council, Leicester City Council and other local authorities. Locally, the line is seen as an important aid to the regeneration of the northwest Leicestershire and south Derbyshire coalfield areas.

Against projections of a £2.2m p.a. operating loss on the National Forest Line, Leicestershire County Council decided in May 2000 that they did not wish to pursue a Rail Passenger Partnership Fund (RPP) bid. Subsequent discussions with the Strategic Rail Authority have reiterated the need for the proposals to be revised – in terms of construction costs and the potential for relieving congestion and for modal interchange. A working group, led by North West Leicestershire District Council, comprising local partners including the East Midlands Development Agency has been established to identify a revised proposal.

The proposals to construct an East Midlands Parkway Station on the Midland Mainline to the east of the M1 motorway have been developed by Midland Mainline, the franchisee for intercity services between London St Pancras and Leicester, Nottingham, Derby and Sheffield. Although the proposal has been granted planning permission, subsequent negotiations between Midland Mainline and Powergen, the current owners of the site, have run into difficulty. Midland Mainline is now looking to use a Compulsory Purchase Order powers under the Transport and Works Act 1992 to obtain the land.

There is concern over current and potentially increasing disruption to pedestrian and traffic flows when trains pass through the level crossing on the High Street in Lincoln City Centre. There is a continuing dialogue between the local partners and the Strategic Rail Authority. GOEM are represented on the Lincoln Rail Working Group that was set up by local MP, Gillian Merron, with key local partners to look at ways of resolving the problem.

General Policy and Information

For information on the government’s rail policy and other useful information please go to www.railways.dft.gov.uk or follow the links on the right of the scrren to go to the websites of the Strategic Rail Authority, Network Rail, the Office of the Rail Regulator and the Health and Safety Executive (including Her Majesty’s Rail Inspectorate).

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FEATURED SECTIONS

Strategic Rail Authority
Responsible for delivering the Rail Strategic Plan

Network Rail
Maintains, improves and upgrades the railway infrastructure.

Office of the Rail Regulator
Independant regulatory body.

Health and Safety Executive
Independent health and safety regulator for rail.

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