Monday 4 January 2021

What the Rail Freight Group says about the conversion to tramline and test track.

Tim, thanks for your message.

 

It is imperative that the planning of the railways provides proper capacity and capability for freight services, where the customer demand is there.  For services to and indeed through the West Midlands there are a number of  challenges, not least the expected capacity issues on the Water Orton corridor, restrictions at Kenilworth and a lack of suitable terminals for the construction sector. 

 

For traffic coming from the south west/ Wales, the route via Stourbridge to Walsall could be a useful link, if the right upgrades were in place along the line of route.  Our position has been that it must be assessed in conjunction with the developing passenger proposals on other routes, which could lead to freight being diverted. 

 

Many thanks,

 

Maggie Simpson OBE

Director General 


Dear Maggie and Tony


Thanks very much for replying.  Lovely to hear from you.

I would be fascinated to understand - over my 25 years of writing, phoning and speaking to individuals and groups about this 120 Kms freight/passenger route that is virtually ready built but unused - why, nothing whatsoever has happened!  Why has RFG, and even Tony Berkley to whom I gave details at a Railfuture conference, shown no wish to do anything about it?  Not even to continue to keep it safeguarded/mothballed for eventual, possible use "in the 2040s at the earliest", that is Network Rail's wish!

Why have you all been fully in support of the 56 Kms missing gap, between Stourbridge Jct and Burton on Trent, being given over to a 6.7 Kms tram, 2 Kms VLR test track and an extended cycle-walkway from Brownhills to Lichfield?

It does seem a most tragic waste but, obviously, you do know better.  However, please explain why you are so happy to lose this half-used, 120 Kms Black Country Railway "of national strategic significance" to both freight and passenger use.

By the way, you could Maggie, still save the 50 Kms that is not getting the tramway and test track.  And, it is very much cheaper, even at this late stage, to abandon the £449.5 m tramway to allow your freight trains.  See my like for like comparison study, here

Please do put me right as to your reasons for opposing freight use on the full 120 Kms, especially when you may be losing freight opportunities on the Camp Hill line - Kings Norton, Kings Health, Moseley to Grand Central Shopping Centre and Basement Station.  The Black Country Railway may help you as the alternative line - the diverted route.

But you will have to act very quickly, now!

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