West Berkshire rail line upgrade will come at a cost
The Government has unveiled plans to add extra, faster trains, improve tracks, re-introduce defunct lines, and improve the capacity of stations in the capital to accept an extra 120,000 commutes into London each day.
The new package includes more than £700m of investment in additional capacity around London and the South East, with major refurbishment works at London Waterloo to increase platform lengths and a substantial package of investment along the Great Western Main Line.
The rail industry will now carry out further work to determine the scope of works required and the likely start and completion dates of the schemes, the results of which it will publish in January 2013.
The cost and availability of rail travel in West Berkshire has infuriated passengers in recent years and with fares into London at an all-time high commuter groups are bracing themselves for another eye watering above-inflation raise to pay for the improvements.
The Transport Secretary Justine Greening confirmed that ticket prices would rise at 3 per cent above inflation for the next two years, with further rises in 2015.
Last year figures showed trains serving Newbury were among the most overcrowded in the country and with this year’s statistics released in the autumn all eyes will be on Network Rail and First Great Western to see how the companies have reacted in the wake of commuter fury.
Independent watchdog Passenger Focus has published a response to the Government’s consultation on the Great Western rail franchise drawn from the views of 4,000 passengers using the trains through Newbury and the surrounding area.
It found the improvements passengers would most like to see are punctuality and reliability of the train, being able to get a seat, and value for money for the price of a ticket.
The Government’s £9 billion worth of rail investments will help transport, the economy and the environment in the Thames Valley, say local rail campaigners.
A spokesman for commuter group Railfuture Thames Valley, Hugh Jaeger, said the announcement left gaps, but the expansion of existing electrification between London and Didcot and Newbury and Oxford existing Thameslink trains was welcome.
The group said it wanted to see more electrified lines which would increase flexibility and cut costs.
The Department for Transport has also announced £65 million to improve safety at level crossings across England and Wales.
Mr Jaeger said: “We need safer level crossings in the Thames Valley, where a collision with a car at Shiplake and deaths at Tackley and Ufton Nervet highlight the need to either have full barriers and CCTV or replace level crossings with bridges.
“Deaths at level crossings have been reduced but more can be done. Shiplake is to be made safer; Railfuture hopes that Tackley and Ufton Nervet will be included too.”