'Rail Lines' update, June 2008.
Articles have been appearing in magazines within the past few weeks which should make us feel ever positive that one day there will be a first class (meaning execellent) train service running at least between Cambridge & Haverhill. If not, on to Sudbury and Colchester as well. Could the seldom used platform six at Colchester be reserved for this service?
Article 1 headed 'Crowded Out', states the population of England is growing faster than demographers had predicted. But transport planning has not been adjusted to take account of this. Within two years, England will overtake Holland as the most densely populated major country, and it will get progressively more crowded. The south of England will bear the brunt of the increasing population, placing further strain on what are already the most pressured parts of the transport network. Little is being done about it.
RAILWAYS ARE BEING RE-OPENED IN WALES & SCOTLAND.
Stirling -Alloa - Kinkardine in Scotland re-opens after 40 years.
This line re-opened on 19th May 2008, with journey times between Alloa & Stirling and 55 minutes between Alloa -kincardine.
Just imagine from Haverhill to Cambridge in 20 minutes of less.
Clackmannarkshire Council leader Janet Cadenhead said ''The railway will breathe new life into Aloa & Clackmannarkshire, encouraging businesses & jobs while providing our citizens with convenient, safe & fast public transport to Stirling, Glasgow & Edinburgh. I look forward to using the railway for many years to come.''
Making a comeback.
Another very recent article in a professional magazine is entitled 'MAKING A COMEBACK'.
....There are local campaigns all around the UK to re-open former railway lines. Among them, several projects which would serve areas where there has been large population growth. these areas could have a real fighting chance of seeing passanger trains again - if they can get the right backing.
The article goes on to say: ''In a crowded land, where every indicator suggests a remorseless increase in road traffic, reinstating disused lines, or creating new ones, seems an exceptionally obvious solution to preventing gridlock.''
Yet it remains a missing link in current transport stategy. Small comfort, then, for people living in burgeoning commuter towns. They have little choice but to spill out onto busy roads, and endure a daily crawl to work by car.
Rail Revival Schemes.
In July 2008 issue of 'The Railway Magazine', there is a list of rail revival schemes, and where they all are (except Cambridge to Haverhill & Sudbury of course!) Some clear explaining surely has to be done..
how many other campaigns have obtained a petition totalling over 11400 adults and over 600 juniors under 18?
A list of the current revival schemes will be included in the next issue of our newsletter 'Rail Lines'.
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