LEICESTER | Transport Issues

[jaybob]

From Todays Mercury

FAST RAIL LINK IS 'WORTH BILLIONS'
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BYMARTIN ROBINSON
POLITICAL REPORTER

10:30 - 16 July 2008





Business leaders are backing proposals to build a high-speed rail line to London.

They said journey times as fast as 35 minutes between Leicester and the capital would pump "billions" into the area's economy.



Network Rail is considering an 186mph service on tracks which would follow the same route as the Midland mainline.

It would be an intercity route, serving Leicester, Derby, Nottingham and Sheffield.

Chambers of commerce for Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire are jointly to petition Government about the issue.

Businesses and councils are being encouraged to help form a pressure group to try to secure the line.

Martin Traynor, managing director of Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce, said Leicester would benefit more than anywhere else if the line was built.

He said: "This issue is so important.

"A high-speed rail link could make Leicester very attractive to businesses and Government departments.

"It would mean billions in investment, and I believe Leicester would benefit most because it is the first major city on the Midland mainline."

Business organisations said if the East Midlands missed out, the region could become an "economic backwater", which would adversely affect the wealth of future generations.

Network Rail has commissioned a study into the high-speed plan because the current line will be full to capacity by 2025.

It said it did not yet know what type of train would run on the tracks, though it would be similar in designs to high-speed engines such as those which run Eurostar and French TGV services.

Both Leicester City Council and Leicestershire County Council have pledged to campaign for the line.

Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Chamber of Commerce chief executive, George Cowcher, said: "We need to bring together all the interested parties from a huge area covering the East Midlands and beyond. The stakes could not be higher.

"We may be talking of 20 to 30 years' time, but the action we take now will have a fundamental impact on the wealth of our communities for future generations.

"There is a direct link between the wealth and success of a region and the quality of its transport and communications links.

"If we do not put forward a strong case at the highest levels, we risk becoming an economic backwater."

[Leicity82]

Now that's one thing I can't wait to be built.

[d4mo85]

It would certainly be a great move for Leicester - especially being the first major City on that line, which is going through a 15year regeneration phase. We'd definitely attract a lot of business.

20 to 30 years time though.. why is this country so bloody slow with everything? We used to rule the world in every sense at one time, and now we can't even tie our shoe-laces without there being some delay or spiraling costs. How do we know there will be need for such a train-line in 3 decades?

[Leicity82]

It'll probably be built when the rail infrastructure comes to a standstill in the UK in, guess what, 25 years time so they say!

[Leicity82]

From news.scotsman.com:

Plan for £30bn high-speed rail link

A plan for a new north-south £30 billion high-speed rail line which will link to Europe will be unveiled next week by councils opposed to Heathrow airport expansion.
Running initially along the line of the M1, the route would make it easier for people in Scotland and northern England to get to Heathrow, reducing the need for internal connecting flights.

European links via the Channel Tunnel would mean travelle
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rs could get from Sheffield to Paris in three hours, Manchester to Amsterdam in four hours and Leeds to Frankfurt in five-and-a-half hours.

The plan, which could be completed by 2030, is being unveiled on Monday by the 2M Group - an all-party alliance of local authorities unhappy about development plans at Heathrow.

The group says its plan differs from other high-speed line proposals in that it aims to connect more UK cities and ensures Heathrow is fully joined to the new network.

Drawn up by chartered civil engineer Colin Elliff, the plan envisages a single England-Scotland spine route would be created with spur connections to outlying cities.

The spine would initially follow the M1 from London and serve Leicester, Nottingham, Sheffield, Leeds, Newcastle, Edinburgh en route to Glasgow. Spurs would reach out to major cites in the Midlands and northern England including Birmingham, Manchester and Liverpool.

It would be built in phases with the first section running from London to Leicester, with a branch to Birmingham and connecting to the existing West Coast and Midland Main lines. The second phase would extend from Leicester along the M1/M18 corridor and connect to the East Coast Main Line in Yorkshire.

The third phase could extend from Sheffield to Leeds, and follow the disused Woodhead line to Manchester. This would require the former rail tunnel here to be re-opened for high-speed track. The final stages would extend to Liverpool along the M62 corridor and shadow the East Coast Main Line and M8 corridors to Edinburgh and Glasgow.

There will also be Heathrow compass points, with up to 40 trains an hour dispersing Heathrow passengers to Home Counties destinations and linking with main line services.

See: http://news.scotsman.com/latest-scot...ail.4302308.jp

[Leicity82]

Interesting to note that the first section will be from London to Leicester, which sounds like great news.

[Mark76]

I demand bullet trains

[Leicity82]

One step at a time...

[belgrave boy]

Great news if it is implemented.

Also note how it says there will be a branch to Birmingham therefore it will be quicker to reach Leicester than Birmingham, it could also mean that Leicester is even more closer to Birmingham as i assume you would have to catch another train from Leicester Station to Birmingham. This could have a great impact on Leicester because people from Birmingham and other northern cities will have to travel through Leicester in order to reach the capital and then on to Europe.

[Leicity82]

From today's Mercury:

PLANS FOR HIGH-SPEED TRAIN TO HEATHROW ARE UNVEILED

BY ALISON CURTIS

10:30 - 21 July 2008

Proposals for a £30 billion high-speed rail link between Leicester and Heathrow have been unveiled.

The plans for the route have been drawn up on behalf of a group of London councils campaigning against the expansion of the airport.

The rail link would connect England and Scotland, running along the line of the M1 and would make it easier for people in the East Midlands to get to Heathrow.

The 2M group, made up of London councils, said its proposals were different to other high-speed rail plans as the routes served more cities and linked Heathrow fully to the rail network.

They believe the route could be completed by 2030 and would remove the need for domestic connecting flights.

The group is urging Government ministers to back the proposals.

However, Martin Traynor, managing director of Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce, said improved train links between Leicester and London were more important than between the city and Heathrow.

He said: "Anything that can improve the rail links between Leicester and London and reduce travel time is very welcome for the business community. It makes Leicester more attractive to businesses.

"The link between Leicester and London is the most important thing to us, but Heathrow would be a bonus."

Councillor Patrick Kitterick, Leicester City Council's cabinet member for transport, said: "I don't really know how feasible this would be. But I would cautiously welcome it.

"Anything that can improve Leicester's links to London and other cities would be good for the city."

The 2M group's report said the route would be built in phases.

The first section would run from London to Leicester, with a branch to Birmingham to connect to the existing West Coast and Midland main lines.

The second phase would extend from Leicester along the M1/M18 corridor and connect to the East Coast main line in Yorkshire.

It would also use European links through the Channel Tunnel to connect England to destinations such as Amsterdam, Milan and Frankfurt.

Yesterday, rail passengers at Leicester station had mixed views on the proposals.

Graham Allen, from Loughborough, said: "I think there are things they need to do to improve rail travel before they worry about connecting Leicester with Heathrow. It sounds a bit far-fetched if it is only London councils proposing it."

Kim Garrett, from Oadby, said: "It's an interesting idea. It would make it easier for people flying from the airport as car-parking is so expensive and it's difficult to take a suitcase across London on the tube."

The plans have been drawn up by chartered civil engineer Colin Elliff on behalf of the group of councils.

Edward Lister, leader of Wandsworth Council which is part of the 2M Group, said: "It's time for some imagination in UK transport planning. We don't pretend for one minute we have all the answers, but at least we're asking the right questions. Even expanding just the existing Heathrow runways would bring another million road journeys.

"The real demand is for sustainable transport options that actually help people and businesses move around the country."

Earlier this month the Mercury reported Network Rail is considering running a 186mph service between Leicester and the capital on new tracks which would follow the same route as current Midland Mainline trains.

In June, plans to improve tracks to make train journeys between Leicester and London up to 15 minutes quicker were accepted.

Leicester Mercury website, 20th July 2008.

See: http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.u...=sidebarsearch

Is this in addition to the high speed line to London?

Roll on 2030!

[Leicity82]

The plans are different to the other, as the other plan is to counter-act Heathrow's expansion (see the scotsman.com article post 645)

[Leicity82]

Two Leics bids are shortlisted for the £200m transport infrastructure fund; which are the Birtsall Park & Ride and the 'Waterside Sanvey Gate junction improvement, Leicester', see the following article from building.co.uk:

http://www.building.co.uk/story.asp?...rycode=3119637

[Leicity82]

Latest on Upperton Road redvelopment from LCC website today:

Road to close for major works

no: 410-08
date: August 5, 2008

A ROAD forming part of a major regeneration scheme will close briefly from next week as the work nears completion.

Upperton Road, off Narborough Road, will close to traffic and pedestrians from 10pm on Friday, August 15, until 6am on Tuesday, August 26.

It is the latest stage of a multi-million project to replace the old Upperton Road Viaduct with a new ground-level bridge route and improved cycle and pedestrian way on the Great Central Way.

During the road closure workers will complete the new permanent road and tie it in to the existing road network.

Signs warning motorists of delays and diversion routes will be erected on major routes into the city. Signs will also direct visitors to the Castle Park Heritage and Arts Festival, which takes place from August 18 to 25.

Traffic from the M1/M69 junction will be directed along Soar Valley Way and Aylestone Road.

City-bound traffic coming from Narborough Road will be directed to St Nicholas Circle and Welford Road.

Great Central Way will also close, with diversions along Western Road, Bruce Street and Wilberforce Road and across the river at the Briton Street bridge near Bede Park.

Project manager Aman Mehra said: “This is another exciting major milestone in the project. The closure period has been chosen to minimise the impact of the road closure by taking advantage of traffic flow during the school and public holidays.

"When the route reopens, traffic will use the new road alignment and travel over the new bridge over the Old River Soar.

“However there is still a significant amount of work to do to complete the scheme including removing the temporary road and bridges, and extensive landscaping work.”

Full details of the closure, diversion and traffic information are available at:
www.leicester.gov.uk/uppertonroad

The website also includes links to traffic and travel advice and information.

For further information, contact the council’s traffic information line, on 0116 254 0000, or the street scene information line on 0116 252 7001.

The scheme, which is due to be completed in December, is the biggest local authority transport project in the East Midlands, and is backed by £18.2 million of Department for Transport money.

See: http://www.leicester.gov.uk/newssite....asp?pgid=8696

[Captain Redeye]

They've almost completed the road and pavements, most of the street lights are installed - they went in today I think (full cutoff lanterns now, so less glare and light pollution), they were connecting the Wilberforce Road end of the new road in when I went past this afternoon, so all that's left is the connecting section in the middle and the end joining the roundabout (where they are planning on putting the Liberty statue).

Having a straight road should hopefully speed things up a bit (except for the bloody crossing of course no amount of verbally tarting it up by calling it an "improved" access will cut it as far as I am concerned) - I just need to remember to use Narborough Road next week!


BG

[Leicity82]

Wasn't sure where to put this from yesterday's Mercury:

AIRPORT RAIL LINK HIT BY ROAD ACCESS ROW
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BY MARTIN ROBINSON
POLITICAL REPORTER

10:30 - 04 September 2008

A railway station which is being built near East Midlands Airport has hit further problems after a row broke out over road access to the site.

Network Rail has admitted it may not be able to open the development in December as planned.

A resident who lives near the Ratcliffe on Soar site has complained about who will maintain the link-road built from the A453 to the £25 million East Midlands Parkway station.

The Leicester Mercury understands this person wants Nottinghamshire County Council to adopt it because it will keep it in a better condition. But the council has agreed that Network Rail should look after it.

Concerns have also been expressed about plans to reduce the length of the nearby Soar Lane. Railway bosses fear this opposition could lead to a public inquiry.

The Department for Transport would be asked to decide on this issue, which would mean it would not be resolved until next year.

A Network Rail statement to the meeting of the East Midlands Regional Assembly's transport group next week has revealed the situation.

It says: "The track works are complete and the platform, footbridge and road bridge foundations are complete.

"There are some outstanding issues with the access for the station. Every effort is being made to resolve the issues but the access issues are a threat to the station opening in December."

Earlier this year, the Mercury revealed "environmental aspects" include installing rainwater recycling systems were behind schedule, meaning the station may not be fully completed when it opens this winter.

A row over buses to and from East Midlands Airport is still unresolved.

The airport pulled a proposed bus service from the station because until December 2009, while rail signalling is improved, there would be two trains an hour in both directions which would arrive within 11 minutes of each other.

The airport said it was better off running buses from Derby and Loughborough.

County council cabinet member for transport, Nicholas Rushton, said: "I hope there is no delay in opening it.

"It will be a good thing for the area, but when it does start, it will not be working fully. But anything is better than nothing."

Work on the project, close to junction 24 of the M1 motorway, started in December last year.

The line is on the route between Loughborough and Long Eaton - connecting the airport to Leicestershire's rail network.

Leicester Mercury website, 4th September 2008.

See: http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.u...=sidebarsearch

[Captain Redeye]

Originally Posted by Leicity82

So, what are you supposed to do when you arrive at the station then? Walk??

With no bus link people will have to use Loughborough (or Derby) anyway, so what's the point of having the station there. Unless you want to pay £10 for a taxi



BG

[moseeds]

I'm still not quite understanding why the train station is in the middle of nowhere?!

[candida]

Don't worry - you're not the only one. A complete waste of time! Have a rail link direct to the airport and I would think it's worth doing.

[Leicity82]

From LCC website today:

Plans revealed for city centre bus hub

no: 489-08
date: September 23, 2008

BUSINESSES and residents in Leicester city centre will be asked for their views on a major new park and ride bus facility at St Nicholas Place.

It is proposed to create the new hub to accommodate bus stops both for existing and planned park and ride services coming into the city.

A new park and ride service is due to start in autumn 2009, based at purpose-built 1,000-space car park planned for near Fosse Park in Enderby, the construction of which is due to start in January 2009.

St Nicholas Place would be one of the main city centre drop-off points for passengers using this service. Buses from the existing park and ride at Meynell’s Gorse, the proposed park and ride services from Enderby and future park and ride services.

People are now being asked for their views on the plans as part of a major consultation process, which will run from September 22 to October 3.
Letters will be sent out from September 22 to all residents and businesses in the area.

As part of the consultation, large-scale plans and artists’ impressions for the site will be displayed at BBC Radio Leicester, in St Nicholas Place, from September 29 to October 4.

Under the plans, St Nicholas Place would feature three new bus shelters, raised kerbs and access to the Star Trak bus timetable system.

The car park in the centre of St Nicholas Place will remain, with traffic lights controlling the exit onto Vaughan Way.

Applegate, which is currently pedestrianised, would also re-open primarily to allow bus traffic to exit St Nicholas Place.

There are also plans to install a taxi rank at the edge of the car park, and a two-way cycle route from Highcross Street, to St Nicholas Place, Applegate and through to Southgates.

Leicester City Council will also carry out work to assess of there is a demand for a new Shopmobility facility and toilets at the site.

Major improvements to the pedestrian route are also planned for the north side of the area to link the city centre to the Waterside.

Preparatory work could start on parts of the site before Christmas 2008, and could be completed by September 2009.

Leicester City Council’s cabinet member for regeneration and transport, Cllr Patrick Kitterick, said: “This could be a very important development for Leicester in terms of providing a high-quality accessible bus hub for people using the park and ride services.

“We would be very interested to hear what people think of the proposals, and would encourage anyone interested in the plans to take part in the consultations.”

Further details on the scheme are available at http://92.43.64.134/consultations/Co...spx?consID=233

See: http://www.leicester.gov.uk/newssite....asp?pgid=8780

Some sketches from the website mentioned in the article:




The plan can be seen in the following pdf documents, also from the website:
http://92.43.64.134/consultations/ge...ocID=48&docT=G

http://92.43.64.134/consultations/ge...ocID=49&docT=G

[Mark76]

What's wrong with St Margarets?

Seriously. Does the city council not own it or something?

Or is it really so busy that adding additional services would strain it to breaking point?