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West Anglia Routes Group Responds to Office of Rail Regulation Funding Announcement
Author: WARG Administrator
Date: 03 Nov 2008
The West Anglia Routes Group has issued a statement responding to the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) announcement of Network Rail’s outputs and funding for 2009-14. The Group welcomed those projects which aim to address serious issues with crowding on the West Anglia Routes:
- Lengthening services to Cambridge and Stansted to 12 carriages.
- Upgrades at Seven Sisters to allow a shuttle service to / from Cheshunt.
- Power supply upgrades to support longer and more frequent trains.
However it was noted that while this limited investment is a start, the notable absence of funding for platform extensions to allow longer suburban services to operate (to Chingford, Enfield Town, Cheshunt and Hertford East), means a suitably funded short term solution needs to be urgently agreed. This is a must if the Government’s own target of a 30.9% increase in capacity on the West Anglia Routes is to be achieved by 2013/14.
On top of this, funding is still required to push ahead with development of a 4 tracking scheme for the Lea Valley line between Broxbourne Junction and Coppermill Junction, which should include work to find a solution to the safety and east-west movement issues arising from level crossings, with a view to delivering improvements by 2018/19 that address the needs of all users and assist local regeneration.
Moving forward, more and longer trains, along with implementation of 4 tracking, are the only ways to finally bring the West Anglia Routes into the 21st Century.
