RailNOfuture have always believed in 'Trams to Get Trains'

Hi David

Thanks so much for writing:-

"did you know that after Parker became mayor he commissioned a report on the delays with both the tram extensions and the delayed stations along the camp hill line I had heard of this but have never heard anymore about it, just like the non-existent review that Andy Street asked for in 2021 or 2022.  Both men are overruled/ignored by TfWM/WMCA officers and members, it seems!

it was published recently, would be worth trying to find a copy ?  I have asked about Andy's independent review but I am ignored by WMCA, even by their two Governance officers, Dan Essex and his boss, Helen Edwards who are responsible for good governance, good order and good decision making (copied in here for them to correct me or to clarify, please).  Andy once told me, if I remember correctly, that Mark Smith (Chair of Audit, Risk and Assurance Committee) was to write this, supposedly, independent review.  Mark is certainly NOT independent.  What do the official minutes say, Dan and Helen?

I spoke to someone informally on the RF (Railfuture) committee, apparently we would like to see rail services on that line. The line had been disused for many many years and we supported re-opening as a  tram line, didn't seem to be a lot of demand for train services. So when it was proposed to make it a tramway it seemed better than it rotting away, but we were told that it would be possible to have trains on that track, I think you've been told that?"

Regrettably, the Railway Development Society (RailNOfuture - my sad name for them) since the last century, have been consistently limp, compliant puppets of first Centro/PTA and now TfWM/WMCA.  I have had to do their job of checking, challenging and questionning the extraordinary policies and practices of the authorities since the very proper closure, by Richard Beeching, of the loss-making railway lines from 1945 to the 1960s.  I doubt if he ever recommended their mostly complete destruction for tramways, roads, trading estates and housing estates.  Did he ever want the closed railway lines to be sold off to any old Tom, Dick or Harriet?

Since the 1990s, Centro/PTA have trotted out that "Light rail investment provides the basis for restoring heavy rail services at the appropriate time".  This was finally put in writing to me, in a letter, by Tom Magrath, Passenger Services Director, Centro on 18 September 2000.

I am sure that there is nowhere else in the world where two (now) mainline railways have to be converted to tramways in order for them to be reinstated for railway TRAINS.  In fact, only since last decade, the third mainline railway is no longer down for the tramway treatment (Camp Hill line) before trains go back.  This proves that the professionals lied to me about "trams first to get trains".