LIGHT RAIL IS DONE TO GET HEAVY RAIL!

The reason VLR test track is heavy rail, I had thought, was because the VLR rolling stock is meant to go on existing heavy rail lines to allow the present rolling stock to be phased out for something lighter and, therefore, with lower impact on depleting finite fossil fuels and lower greenhouse gas emissions.  Is that right, Nick?

Since the announcement of the VLR Innovation Centre on the site of Dudley Castle Hill railway station (at the end of 2013, I think), I have been pointing out that there is the 3 Kms, safeguarded/mothballed, Pensnett branch line from Moor Street, Brierley Hill, north to the A4101 that would be more suitable and allow the railway station at Castle Hill to be rebuilt, as is their stated intention:-

"In a letter dated 18.9.2000, from Tom Magrath, Passenger Services Director, Centro:

'light rail investment provides the basis for restoring heavy rail services at the appropriate time.'

To tell me that light rail Metro was needed to be put on the Black Country Line in order to be able to restore heavy rail services at a later date on that line is complete nonsense.  That idiocy is now repeated with the insistence that Very Light Rail must go on that inter-city line but that it will not stop express and local trains returning at a later date (conversation with David Golding, Principal Strategic Planner, Network Rail at ITA meeting on 16.7.2015)  No wonder, I am thinking that there is something very corrupt, very wrong at the heart of the West Midlands Combined Authority, Network Rail, ITA, Centro - and, for decades, too.  They all want express and local trains returning but want Light Rail and/or Very Light Rail, first to help get the everyday trains back!"

from:

 Magrath quote, MM history and costs

Best wishes