Monday 5 February 2024

to Mal Drury-Rose

Dear Mal

I am now into the fourth decade (90s, 00s, 10s, 20s) of writing and speaking about the biggest scandal of neglect, idiocy and incompetence after the much more serious Post Office Scandal.  

RDS/Railfuture produced this brilliant brochure in 2003:
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with my photos, here
tracks nicked by metal thieves since M6 Toll was opened in December 2003:
 
Can you reassure me, Mal that you will tak​e the lead ​in support​ing my contention that existing freight and passenger railway lines must be used for their intended purpose?

​Is it normal professional practice for two mainline railways in the Black Country ​to ​be turned into part tramways?

Over the decades since we all went out and bought cars, we have had motorways built, with railways turned into roads, offices, homes, shops, trading estates and tramways, and your colleagues have let it all happen without a murmur of protest.  Is that fair?

Now, nature, housing land and public open space get taken, costing at least £100 m for the tramway viaduct when the tram could continue on the railway
to connect to the national railway network at Stourbridge Junction on the London, Oxford, Black Country, Derby, Edinburgh mainline railway.  One of only two, NORTH/SOUTH, between Brum and the Irish Sea!  The other is Crewe, Shrewsbury, Hereford, Cardiff.  SEE:

OUR half-used principal mainline railway is one of only two in an enormous area with traffic-choked motorways and main roads.  This has gone on for decades.  Do you feel, Mal you should be much more active in insisting that the railway be finished with TRAINS and stations, where you haven't put the Dudley Tram and tram stops

Best wishes

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