Buses: Current Issues
Since there isn't a thread that groups together non-Metrolink public transport here is a new one, bit late for the M60 widenning (finishes in a couple of weeks), however, BBC NW news this morning reporting that Virgin are set to increase the frequency and the speed of the Manchester to London trains.
Given they take 2hrs at the moment and run every 30mins they sure are going to be very very good competition for the planes.
All good stuff in my opinion, no doubt Virgin will put a press release out later that will be reported in the MEN.
Given they take 2hrs at the moment and run every 30mins they sure are going to be very very good competition for the planes.
All good stuff in my opinion, no doubt Virgin will put a press release out later that will be reported in the MEN.
1 - 20 of 46 Posts
Maybe not getting rid of the police on the trams would be a start???
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/4936396.stm
Ideas to cut crime on transport
Police, council officers and transport bosses are setting out new ways of tackling crime on public transport in Greater Manchester.
A conference, arranged by the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive (GMPTE) is being held at the City of Manchester stadium on Monday.
More than 100 people from across the region are expected to attend.
Event organisers say tackling crime makes travellers feel safer and boosts passenger numbers.
Chairman of Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority, Councillor Roger Jones, said: "Public transport is an extremely safe way to travel.
"However, vandalised stations, shelters and vehicles make passengers feel worried as well as costing millions of pounds in repair bills.
Service reinstated
"We want more and more people to regularly use public transport, but we'll only be able to encourage people out of their cars if they believe they'll be safe."
Earlier this year, transport bosses in Salford were able to reinstate a popular bus service following the success of an initiative aimed at tackling crime and anti-social behaviour.
The 36 evening service, operated by First, stopped running along Kenyon Way in Little Hulton in December 2002 after buses were persistently vandalised.
GMPTE worked closely with the bus company, Salford City Council and Greater Manchester Police to tackle problems early so that the service could go back on the road.
It is hoped that similar initiatives can be developed.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/4936396.stm
Ideas to cut crime on transport
Police, council officers and transport bosses are setting out new ways of tackling crime on public transport in Greater Manchester.
A conference, arranged by the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive (GMPTE) is being held at the City of Manchester stadium on Monday.
More than 100 people from across the region are expected to attend.
Event organisers say tackling crime makes travellers feel safer and boosts passenger numbers.
Chairman of Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority, Councillor Roger Jones, said: "Public transport is an extremely safe way to travel.
"However, vandalised stations, shelters and vehicles make passengers feel worried as well as costing millions of pounds in repair bills.
Service reinstated
"We want more and more people to regularly use public transport, but we'll only be able to encourage people out of their cars if they believe they'll be safe."
Earlier this year, transport bosses in Salford were able to reinstate a popular bus service following the success of an initiative aimed at tackling crime and anti-social behaviour.
The 36 evening service, operated by First, stopped running along Kenyon Way in Little Hulton in December 2002 after buses were persistently vandalised.
GMPTE worked closely with the bus company, Salford City Council and Greater Manchester Police to tackle problems early so that the service could go back on the road.
It is hoped that similar initiatives can be developed.
http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/m...ondon_to_manchester_trains_every_20_mins.html
London to Manchester trains every 20 mins
PLANS for trains every 20 minutes between London and Manchester were announced today by Sir Richard Branson.
The Virgin Trains' chief also said his company intended to bid for the CrossCountry rail route following the Government decision to end Virgin's franchise early.
The 20-minute frequency for London-Manchester will be introduced in 2008 on Virgin's other rail franchise - the West Coast Main Line.
Advertisement your story continues below
Virgin also announced that three services an hour will run between Birmingham and London under plans being finalised with the Government and Network Rail (NR).
The company also said it hoped that it could raise the speed of its West Coast tilting Pendolino trains from 125mph to 135mph.
Other plans for the West Coast line include:
* Hourly Glasgow-London services
* 30-minute peak-time frequency on Liverpool-London, more trains between London and North Wales and hourly services between London to Chester
* First trials of e-ticketing and a new website to make ticket-buying easier
* A trial of personal chauffeur services for passengers
* Mobile telephone links on trains.
In recent years following the demise of Railtrack and the delays to the completion of the West Coast modernisation, Virgin has run both its West Coast and CrossCountry franchises on a year-by-year contract in close contact with the Department for Transport (DfT).
Franchise
Last October, the DfT said it was ending this "letter arrangement" on CrossCountry and would be re-letting a reconstituted CrossCountry franchise in autumn 2007. Virgin had originally been given the franchise until 2012.
Today Sir Richard said that Virgin intended to bid for CrossCountry and told Virgin staff in a website broadcast: "We've started so we'll finish."
Separately, Sir Richard said today: ""There were many cynics who just laughed at our plans when we launched the franchises. They said it could never be done, and at one point even I briefly wondered if they might have been right.
"But we persevered and the Virgin rail operation of today is a shining example of what can be achieved with the right vision."
Pendolinos
Virgin, which operates more than 50 Pendolinos, has seen passengers rise on West Coast from 15.4 million in 1998-99 to 18.7 million in 2005-06, while over the same period CrossCountry passengers have risen from 13.6 million to 20.4 million.
Virgin Trains chief executive Tony Collins said today: "We need to look now at more Pendolino trains and more carriages on the existing trains, otherwise we will inhibit further growth. We also need to improve car parking at stations.
"These are not some vague ideas for the future; they are real issues that we are already progressing. We also have trains that can travel at 140mph, but are restricted to 125mph. We are talking with Network Rail about running at 135mph on some parts of the route. We believe we can do this, not in 20 years' time, or even 10 years' time - but from 2008."
London to Manchester trains every 20 mins
PLANS for trains every 20 minutes between London and Manchester were announced today by Sir Richard Branson.
The Virgin Trains' chief also said his company intended to bid for the CrossCountry rail route following the Government decision to end Virgin's franchise early.
The 20-minute frequency for London-Manchester will be introduced in 2008 on Virgin's other rail franchise - the West Coast Main Line.
Advertisement your story continues below
Virgin also announced that three services an hour will run between Birmingham and London under plans being finalised with the Government and Network Rail (NR).
The company also said it hoped that it could raise the speed of its West Coast tilting Pendolino trains from 125mph to 135mph.
Other plans for the West Coast line include:
* Hourly Glasgow-London services
* 30-minute peak-time frequency on Liverpool-London, more trains between London and North Wales and hourly services between London to Chester
* First trials of e-ticketing and a new website to make ticket-buying easier
* A trial of personal chauffeur services for passengers
* Mobile telephone links on trains.
In recent years following the demise of Railtrack and the delays to the completion of the West Coast modernisation, Virgin has run both its West Coast and CrossCountry franchises on a year-by-year contract in close contact with the Department for Transport (DfT).
Franchise
Last October, the DfT said it was ending this "letter arrangement" on CrossCountry and would be re-letting a reconstituted CrossCountry franchise in autumn 2007. Virgin had originally been given the franchise until 2012.
Today Sir Richard said that Virgin intended to bid for CrossCountry and told Virgin staff in a website broadcast: "We've started so we'll finish."
Separately, Sir Richard said today: ""There were many cynics who just laughed at our plans when we launched the franchises. They said it could never be done, and at one point even I briefly wondered if they might have been right.
"But we persevered and the Virgin rail operation of today is a shining example of what can be achieved with the right vision."
Pendolinos
Virgin, which operates more than 50 Pendolinos, has seen passengers rise on West Coast from 15.4 million in 1998-99 to 18.7 million in 2005-06, while over the same period CrossCountry passengers have risen from 13.6 million to 20.4 million.
Virgin Trains chief executive Tony Collins said today: "We need to look now at more Pendolino trains and more carriages on the existing trains, otherwise we will inhibit further growth. We also need to improve car parking at stations.
"These are not some vague ideas for the future; they are real issues that we are already progressing. We also have trains that can travel at 140mph, but are restricted to 125mph. We are talking with Network Rail about running at 135mph on some parts of the route. We believe we can do this, not in 20 years' time, or even 10 years' time - but from 2008."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/4937776.stm
More West Coast trains to London
Trains will run every 20 minutes between Manchester and London by 2008, Sir Richard Branson has revealed.
The timetable boost is one of a number of plans for the West Coast Main Line service unveiled by the Virgin Trains boss on Monday.
More frequent services between London and Liverpool, Chester, Glasgow and North Wales are also planned.
Sir Richard said his company would also bid for the Cross Country rail route when its franchise ends in 2007.
In recent years, Virgin has run both its West Coast and Cross Country franchises on a year-by-year contract.
In October last year, the Department for Transport said it would be re-letting a reconstituted Cross Country franchise in autumn 2007.
We are talking with Network Rail about running at 135mph on some parts of the route
Tony Collins, Chief Executive
On Monday, Sir Richard said Virgin intended to bid for Cross Country and told staff in a website broadcast: "We've started so we'll finish."
"There were many cynics who just laughed at our plans when we launched the franchises. They said it could never be done and at one point even I briefly wondered if they might have been right.
"But we persevered and the Virgin rail operation of today is a shining example of what can be achieved with the right vision."
Virgin also unveiled plans to boost the speed of its tilting Pendolino trains from 125mph to 135mph on some sections of the West Coast line.
Passenger rise
It currently operates more than 50 Pendolinos and has seen passengers rise on the West Coast from 15.4m in 1998-99 to 18.7m in 2005-06.
In the same period, Cross Country passengers have risen from 13.6m to 20.4m.
Virgin Trains chief executive Tony Collins said: "We need to look now at more Pendolino trains and more carriages on the existing trains, otherwise we will inhibit further growth. We also need to improve car parking at stations.
"These are not some vague ideas for the future; they are real issues that we are already progressing. We also have trains that can travel at 140mph, but are restricted to 125mph.
"We are talking with Network Rail about running at 135mph on some parts of the route. We believe we can do this, not in 20 years' time, or even 10 years' time - but from 2008."
More West Coast trains to London
Trains will run every 20 minutes between Manchester and London by 2008, Sir Richard Branson has revealed.
The timetable boost is one of a number of plans for the West Coast Main Line service unveiled by the Virgin Trains boss on Monday.
More frequent services between London and Liverpool, Chester, Glasgow and North Wales are also planned.
Sir Richard said his company would also bid for the Cross Country rail route when its franchise ends in 2007.
In recent years, Virgin has run both its West Coast and Cross Country franchises on a year-by-year contract.
In October last year, the Department for Transport said it would be re-letting a reconstituted Cross Country franchise in autumn 2007.
We are talking with Network Rail about running at 135mph on some parts of the route
Tony Collins, Chief Executive
On Monday, Sir Richard said Virgin intended to bid for Cross Country and told staff in a website broadcast: "We've started so we'll finish."
"There were many cynics who just laughed at our plans when we launched the franchises. They said it could never be done and at one point even I briefly wondered if they might have been right.
"But we persevered and the Virgin rail operation of today is a shining example of what can be achieved with the right vision."
Virgin also unveiled plans to boost the speed of its tilting Pendolino trains from 125mph to 135mph on some sections of the West Coast line.
Passenger rise
It currently operates more than 50 Pendolinos and has seen passengers rise on the West Coast from 15.4m in 1998-99 to 18.7m in 2005-06.
In the same period, Cross Country passengers have risen from 13.6m to 20.4m.
Virgin Trains chief executive Tony Collins said: "We need to look now at more Pendolino trains and more carriages on the existing trains, otherwise we will inhibit further growth. We also need to improve car parking at stations.
"These are not some vague ideas for the future; they are real issues that we are already progressing. We also have trains that can travel at 140mph, but are restricted to 125mph.
"We are talking with Network Rail about running at 135mph on some parts of the route. We believe we can do this, not in 20 years' time, or even 10 years' time - but from 2008."
Varies along the length.
Near where I live (near the Alty / Stretford junction) there is 3 lanes each way of 'through traffic' plus an additional 2 lanes for local traffic in either direction making it 5 lanes each way.
Pesonally I think it's mad, the jams will simply move around to the new bottle neck around at the Traffic Centre.
Near where I live (near the Alty / Stretford junction) there is 3 lanes each way of 'through traffic' plus an additional 2 lanes for local traffic in either direction making it 5 lanes each way.
Pesonally I think it's mad, the jams will simply move around to the new bottle neck around at the Traffic Centre.
Article in this weeks NW Enquirer (great paper BTW) about National Rails proposals for high speed rail.
Basically, looking at a £14bn line from London to Glasgow / Edinburgh via Brum and Manc.
It seems to be the only viable high speed option that would meet government criteria for funding in this country (although that is far from certain).
The article points out a much bigger hurdle will be the political pressure to include links to Liverpool, Leeds and Newcastle - however, doing so would ensure the proposals were not economically viable.
The conclusion seems to be we'll end up getting improved capacity, simply to keep those other cities happy, they'd rather we all got nothing rather than the areas that can justify the high speed rail (according to government criteria) getting improvements that may one day be expanded to their areas - ain't this working together great!!!
Can see why London does so well - each of the northern cities are bikkering every time one of them seems to be getting an 'advantage'.
Basically, looking at a £14bn line from London to Glasgow / Edinburgh via Brum and Manc.
It seems to be the only viable high speed option that would meet government criteria for funding in this country (although that is far from certain).
The article points out a much bigger hurdle will be the political pressure to include links to Liverpool, Leeds and Newcastle - however, doing so would ensure the proposals were not economically viable.
The conclusion seems to be we'll end up getting improved capacity, simply to keep those other cities happy, they'd rather we all got nothing rather than the areas that can justify the high speed rail (according to government criteria) getting improvements that may one day be expanded to their areas - ain't this working together great!!!
Can see why London does so well - each of the northern cities are bikkering every time one of them seems to be getting an 'advantage'.
Been thinking about our links to the proposed cities on this route.
We have some seriously environmentally damaging connections to these places that could e improved by the HSR link.
For example, have a look at www.manchesterairport.co.uk to see the that we currently have many flights many of the cities, for example....
We have 59 daily flights to London
We have 14 daily flights to Glasgow
We have 17 daily flighrs to Edinburgh
We don't have any flights to Birmingham obviously
A total of 90 daily (return) flights to each of these cities - imagine the amount of carbon being emitted unnecessarily.
Also, by not having these flights (whch tend to be at prime time for the airport) could free up slots that could allow other operators to come in and hopefully add a few further afield business destinations.
Not only this, but a glance at www.nationalrail.co.uk shows we have the following number of DIRECT connections to the following cities on a daily basis...
32 direct trains to London
32 direct trains to Birmingham
3 direct trains to Glasgow
4 direct trains to Edinburgh
There is clearly a huge demand from the Manchester region to these locations, which explains why the Virgin are soon to be introducing a 20min service to London.
Hopefully Network Rail can get the numbers to add up, and convience the DfT that this scheme is worthy of their investment, not only will it make sense on environmental grounds, but also on economic ones.
We have some seriously environmentally damaging connections to these places that could e improved by the HSR link.
For example, have a look at www.manchesterairport.co.uk to see the that we currently have many flights many of the cities, for example....
We have 59 daily flights to London
We have 14 daily flights to Glasgow
We have 17 daily flighrs to Edinburgh
We don't have any flights to Birmingham obviously
A total of 90 daily (return) flights to each of these cities - imagine the amount of carbon being emitted unnecessarily.
Also, by not having these flights (whch tend to be at prime time for the airport) could free up slots that could allow other operators to come in and hopefully add a few further afield business destinations.
Not only this, but a glance at www.nationalrail.co.uk shows we have the following number of DIRECT connections to the following cities on a daily basis...
32 direct trains to London
32 direct trains to Birmingham
3 direct trains to Glasgow
4 direct trains to Edinburgh
There is clearly a huge demand from the Manchester region to these locations, which explains why the Virgin are soon to be introducing a 20min service to London.
Hopefully Network Rail can get the numbers to add up, and convience the DfT that this scheme is worthy of their investment, not only will it make sense on environmental grounds, but also on economic ones.
Indeed, a fair few would remain, but when the TGV started between Lyon and Paris, the number of flights dropped dramatically, I suspect the same would happen again.
Similarly for the Scottish cities, presuming we had a link to north on the link then I'd imagine practically every one of those flights would go.
Similarly for the Scottish cities, presuming we had a link to north on the link then I'd imagine practically every one of those flights would go.
https://www.gnn.gov.uk/content/deta...4,677,767,684,762,718,674,708,683,706,718,674
23/05/2006 10:00
Department for Transport (National)
NEW BENEFITS IDENTIFIED FOR PASSENGERS FOLLOWING UPGRADE OF WEST COAST MAIN LINE
The West Coast Main Line modernisation will benefit passengers more than previously anticipated, a Government report confirms today.
The West Coast Main Line modernisation will benefit passengers more than previously anticipated, a Government report confirms today.
From 2009 passengers will benefit from faster journey times and more services to key cities on the route such as Birmingham and Manchester.
The West Coast Main Line Progress Report details the planned timetable to be introduced following the completion of the project in 2008. Highlights of the new timetable include:
* London to West Midlands will be served by a train every 20 minutes to Coventry, Birmingham International and Birmingham New St, with a standard journey time of 1hr 23min to Birmingham.
* London to Manchester frequency increased from every half hour to every 20 minutes and accelerated to an end to end time of only 2hr 6min. The fastest train will take less than 2 hours.
* The regular timetable will make journeys between London and Liverpool around 20 minutes quicker than today. Extra peak trains will operate.
* Frequencies will be increased between London, Lancashire, Cumbria and Scotland. Journey times will be considerably reduced, with Glasgow trains being half an hour quicker than today's norm.
* A major improvement in weekend services throughout the route, with journey times and frequencies close to weekday levels.
The report also found that track improvements are being delivered on schedule, costs have been brought under control, reliability has been transformed and is exceeding target levels, and passenger numbers are up 30%.
Launching the report on his visit to view the planned works at Milton Keynes Central station, Rail Minister Derek Twigg said:
"This project has been a tremendous engineering feat, with over 1,200 miles of track laid already and improvements made so that trains can run at 125mph in tilt mode along the entire track. There is still hard work ahead, but credit must go to everyone involved in this remarkable project.
"Passengers have already seen faster journey times and improving reliability delivered by this project, and this is why so many more passengers are now using the West Coast Main Line. Now we have details of the second stage of benefits they will enjoy after the upgrade completes in 2008. These improvements from the project are even greater than we thought would be possible when this work started. Passengers on the West Coast Main Line can look forward to the future with confidence."
Notes to Editors
1. A copy of the West Coast Main Line Progress Report is available on the DfT website at http://www.dft.gov.uk
2. The timetable improvements once the project is completed in 2008 will be better than previously anticipated. The regular journey times and trains per hour frequency from London to major stations will be:
London Euston to/from
Pre-Project
Time (hr min) / Stops / Freq. (tph)
Current (2006)
Time (hr min) / Stops / Freq. (tph)
Latest Indicative Timetable for Post-project
Time (hr min) / Stops / Freq. (tph)
Birmingham 1h 43m 3 2 1h 30m 3 2 1h 23m 3 3
New St.
Coventry 1h 11m 1 2 1h 04m 1 2 1h 00m 1 3
Manchester 2h 41m 4 1 2h 15m 3 2 2h 06m 3 2
via Stoke
Manchester 2h 56m n/a 2/day n/a n/a 4/day 2h 08m 3 1
via Crewe
Stoke 1h 51m 1 1 1h 31m 0 2 1h 28m 0 2
Liverpool 2h 53m 5 1 2h 30m 5 1 2h 09m 2 1**
Crewe 2h 08m 3 2 1h 45m 2 2 1h 35m 0 2**
Preston 3h 01m 5 1 2h 29m 5 1 2h 12m 2 1**
Carlisle 4h 04m 8 0-1 3h 44m 9 0-1 3h 22m 5 1*
Glasgow 5h 35m 10 0-1 5h 00m 10 0-1 4h 29m 6 1*
Chester 2h 38m 3 3/day 2h 10m 2 5/day 2h 02m 2 1
Holyhead 4h 28m 9 3/day 3h 52m 9 4/day 3h 45m 9 5/day
* - Final timetable being prepared. It is expected there will be two off-peak occasions when the service will be 2-hourly and extra trains will run at peak times of day.
** - Additional trains will operate at peak times of day
3. The fastest journey times on the route from London will be:
London Euston Pre- Current Latest
to/from project (2006) Indicative
Timetable for
Post-project
Time Stops Time Stops Time Stops
Birmingham N St 1h 39m 1 1hr 21m 1 1h 18m 1
Manchester n/a n/a 2hr 05m 1 1h 59m 1
Liverpool n/a n/a 2hr 09m 1 2h 06m 1
Preston 2h 25m 0 2hr 10m 0 2h 07m 0
Glasgow 5h 06m 3 4hr 24m 1 4h 15m 1
4. The West Coast Main Line is 1,660 miles long and runs from Euston to Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, North Wales and Scotland. It is responsible for over 2,000 train movements each day and caters for over 75m passenger journeys every year.
5. The engineering work completed so far includes line speed improvements throughout the route to 125mph in tilt mode, 1,266 miles of track renewed and 2,802 miles of signalling cable laid. Major individual projects include new platforms at Birmingham New Street, Wolverhampton and Stockport, a new flyover and platforms at Nuneaton and three major new junctions on the route.
6. Remaining engineering work which will complete the modernisation project include additional line speed improvements on the London-Northampton line, and further work on the line at Stoke, Crewe and sections of Liverpool and Glasgow. Milton Keynes and Rugby stations will be enlarged, the Trent Valley route will be widened and a new depot will be opened at Northampton.
Public Enquiries: 020 7944 8300
Department for Transport Website: http://www.dft.gov.uk
Client ref 049
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Other information
Derek Twigg
NEW BENEFITS IDENTIFIED FOR PASSENGERS FOLLOWING UPGRADE OF WEST COAST MAIN LINE
© Crown Copyright 2006
23/05/2006 10:00
Department for Transport (National)
NEW BENEFITS IDENTIFIED FOR PASSENGERS FOLLOWING UPGRADE OF WEST COAST MAIN LINE
The West Coast Main Line modernisation will benefit passengers more than previously anticipated, a Government report confirms today.
The West Coast Main Line modernisation will benefit passengers more than previously anticipated, a Government report confirms today.
From 2009 passengers will benefit from faster journey times and more services to key cities on the route such as Birmingham and Manchester.
The West Coast Main Line Progress Report details the planned timetable to be introduced following the completion of the project in 2008. Highlights of the new timetable include:
* London to West Midlands will be served by a train every 20 minutes to Coventry, Birmingham International and Birmingham New St, with a standard journey time of 1hr 23min to Birmingham.
* London to Manchester frequency increased from every half hour to every 20 minutes and accelerated to an end to end time of only 2hr 6min. The fastest train will take less than 2 hours.
* The regular timetable will make journeys between London and Liverpool around 20 minutes quicker than today. Extra peak trains will operate.
* Frequencies will be increased between London, Lancashire, Cumbria and Scotland. Journey times will be considerably reduced, with Glasgow trains being half an hour quicker than today's norm.
* A major improvement in weekend services throughout the route, with journey times and frequencies close to weekday levels.
The report also found that track improvements are being delivered on schedule, costs have been brought under control, reliability has been transformed and is exceeding target levels, and passenger numbers are up 30%.
Launching the report on his visit to view the planned works at Milton Keynes Central station, Rail Minister Derek Twigg said:
"This project has been a tremendous engineering feat, with over 1,200 miles of track laid already and improvements made so that trains can run at 125mph in tilt mode along the entire track. There is still hard work ahead, but credit must go to everyone involved in this remarkable project.
"Passengers have already seen faster journey times and improving reliability delivered by this project, and this is why so many more passengers are now using the West Coast Main Line. Now we have details of the second stage of benefits they will enjoy after the upgrade completes in 2008. These improvements from the project are even greater than we thought would be possible when this work started. Passengers on the West Coast Main Line can look forward to the future with confidence."
Notes to Editors
1. A copy of the West Coast Main Line Progress Report is available on the DfT website at http://www.dft.gov.uk
2. The timetable improvements once the project is completed in 2008 will be better than previously anticipated. The regular journey times and trains per hour frequency from London to major stations will be:
London Euston to/from
Pre-Project
Time (hr min) / Stops / Freq. (tph)
Current (2006)
Time (hr min) / Stops / Freq. (tph)
Latest Indicative Timetable for Post-project
Time (hr min) / Stops / Freq. (tph)
Birmingham 1h 43m 3 2 1h 30m 3 2 1h 23m 3 3
New St.
Coventry 1h 11m 1 2 1h 04m 1 2 1h 00m 1 3
Manchester 2h 41m 4 1 2h 15m 3 2 2h 06m 3 2
via Stoke
Manchester 2h 56m n/a 2/day n/a n/a 4/day 2h 08m 3 1
via Crewe
Stoke 1h 51m 1 1 1h 31m 0 2 1h 28m 0 2
Liverpool 2h 53m 5 1 2h 30m 5 1 2h 09m 2 1**
Crewe 2h 08m 3 2 1h 45m 2 2 1h 35m 0 2**
Preston 3h 01m 5 1 2h 29m 5 1 2h 12m 2 1**
Carlisle 4h 04m 8 0-1 3h 44m 9 0-1 3h 22m 5 1*
Glasgow 5h 35m 10 0-1 5h 00m 10 0-1 4h 29m 6 1*
Chester 2h 38m 3 3/day 2h 10m 2 5/day 2h 02m 2 1
Holyhead 4h 28m 9 3/day 3h 52m 9 4/day 3h 45m 9 5/day
* - Final timetable being prepared. It is expected there will be two off-peak occasions when the service will be 2-hourly and extra trains will run at peak times of day.
** - Additional trains will operate at peak times of day
3. The fastest journey times on the route from London will be:
London Euston Pre- Current Latest
to/from project (2006) Indicative
Timetable for
Post-project
Time Stops Time Stops Time Stops
Birmingham N St 1h 39m 1 1hr 21m 1 1h 18m 1
Manchester n/a n/a 2hr 05m 1 1h 59m 1
Liverpool n/a n/a 2hr 09m 1 2h 06m 1
Preston 2h 25m 0 2hr 10m 0 2h 07m 0
Glasgow 5h 06m 3 4hr 24m 1 4h 15m 1
4. The West Coast Main Line is 1,660 miles long and runs from Euston to Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, North Wales and Scotland. It is responsible for over 2,000 train movements each day and caters for over 75m passenger journeys every year.
5. The engineering work completed so far includes line speed improvements throughout the route to 125mph in tilt mode, 1,266 miles of track renewed and 2,802 miles of signalling cable laid. Major individual projects include new platforms at Birmingham New Street, Wolverhampton and Stockport, a new flyover and platforms at Nuneaton and three major new junctions on the route.
6. Remaining engineering work which will complete the modernisation project include additional line speed improvements on the London-Northampton line, and further work on the line at Stoke, Crewe and sections of Liverpool and Glasgow. Milton Keynes and Rugby stations will be enlarged, the Trent Valley route will be widened and a new depot will be opened at Northampton.
Public Enquiries: 020 7944 8300
Department for Transport Website: http://www.dft.gov.uk
Client ref 049
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- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Other information
Derek Twigg
NEW BENEFITS IDENTIFIED FOR PASSENGERS FOLLOWING UPGRADE OF WEST COAST MAIN LINE
© Crown Copyright 2006
https://www.gnn.gov.uk/content/deta...4,677,767,684,762,718,674,708,683,706,718,674
23/05/2006 11:01
Department for Transport (North West)
TRAINS EVERY 20 MINUTES TO LONDON FOR MANCHESTER PASSENGERS FOLLOWING UPGRADE OF WEST COAST MAIN LINE
Manchester and Stockport will get three trains an hour to London when the West Coast Main Line modernisation project completes - a better service than previously anticipated, a Government report confirms today.
Manchester and Stockport will get three trains an hour to London when the West Coast Main Line modernisation project completes - a better service than previously anticipated, a Government report confirms today.
The West Coast Main Line Progress Report details the planned timetable to be introduced following the completion of the project in 2008. Highlights of the planned timetable include:
* Three trains an hour from London to Stockport and Manchester, instead of two. The standard journey time between Manchester and London will be reduced to just over 2 hours - around 40 minutes faster than before the upgrade of the route
* Two of the trains will run via Stoke, 35 minutes faster than before the modernisation project
* The third hourly service to Manchester will operate via Crewe - a route that will provide a new regular hourly service between Wilmslow and London with a journey time of just 1 hour 50 minutes.
* The fastest train from Manchester to London will run in the morning peak and will now take less than 2 hours
* A new through train service will link to Manchester Airport to Carlisle and Scotland
* A major improvement in weekend services, with journey times and frequencies close to weekday levels
The major increase in frequency and improvement in journey times for Manchester will build on the excellent growth in passenger numbers on this service since the first benefits of the West Coast upgrade were implemented in 2004.
The report also found that track improvements are being delivered on schedule, costs have been brought under control, reliability has been transformed and is exceeding target levels, and passenger numbers are up 30%.
Launching the report, Rail Minister Derek Twigg said: "This project has been a tremendous engineering feat, with over 1,200 miles of track laid already and improvements made so that trains can run at 125mph in tilt mode along the entire track. There is still hard work ahead, but credit must go to everyone involved in this remarkable project.
"Passengers have already seen faster journey times and improving reliability delivered by this project, and this is why so many more passengers are now using the West Coast Main Line. Now we have details of the second stage of benefits they will enjoy after the upgrade completes in 2008. These improvements from the project are even greater than we thought would be possible when this work started. Passengers on the West Coast Main Line can look forward to the future with confidence."
Notes to Editors
* A copy of the West Coast Main Line Progress Report is available on the DfT website at http://www.dft.gov.uk
* The timetable improvements once the project is completed in 2008 will be better than previously anticipated. The regular journey times and trains per hour frequency from London to Manchester will be:
London Pre-Project Current(2006) Latest Indicative
Euston Timetable for
to/from Post-project
Time(hrStops Freq Time(hr Stops Freq. Time(hr Stops Freq.
min) (tph) min) (tph) min) (tph)
Manchester 2h 41m 4 1 2h 15m 3 2 2h 06m 3 2
via Stoke
Manchester 2h 56m n/a 2/day n/a n/a 4/day 2h 08m 3 1
via Crewe
The fastest journey times on the route from London will be:
London Pre-Project Current(2006) Latest Indicative
Euston Timetable for
to/from Post-project
Time Stops Time Stops Time Stops
Manchester n/a n/a 2hr 05m 1 1h 59m 1
* The West Coast Main Line is 1,660 miles long and runs from Euston to Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, North Wales and Scotland. It is responsible for over 2,000 train movements each day and caters for over 75m passenger journeys every year.
* The engineering work completed so far includes line speed improvements throughout the route to 125mph in tilt mode, 1,266 miles of track renewed and 2,802 miles of signalling cable laid. Major individual projects that have been completed include the electrification of the line between Crewe and Kidsgrove.
* Remaining engineering work which will complete the modernisation project includes further improvements to speed up the line to London via Stoke-on-Trent.
* Work will also continue on developing and appraising a third platform at Manchester Airport, with a partnership between Network Rail and local organisations hoping to implement the scheme by the end of 2008.
ISSUED ON BEHALF OF THE DEPARTMENT FOR TRANSPORT BY GNN NORTH WEST
Press releases from DfT can be viewed on http://www.gnn.gov.uk
Department for Transport Great Minster House 76 Marsham Street London SW1P 4DR
Client ref DFT/NW/029/2006
GNN ref 133295P
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Other information
TRAINS EVERY 20 MINUTES TO LONDON FOR MANCHESTER PASSENGERS FOLLOWING UPGRADE OF WEST COAST MAIN LIN
© Crown Copyright 2006
23/05/2006 11:01
Department for Transport (North West)
TRAINS EVERY 20 MINUTES TO LONDON FOR MANCHESTER PASSENGERS FOLLOWING UPGRADE OF WEST COAST MAIN LINE
Manchester and Stockport will get three trains an hour to London when the West Coast Main Line modernisation project completes - a better service than previously anticipated, a Government report confirms today.
Manchester and Stockport will get three trains an hour to London when the West Coast Main Line modernisation project completes - a better service than previously anticipated, a Government report confirms today.
The West Coast Main Line Progress Report details the planned timetable to be introduced following the completion of the project in 2008. Highlights of the planned timetable include:
* Three trains an hour from London to Stockport and Manchester, instead of two. The standard journey time between Manchester and London will be reduced to just over 2 hours - around 40 minutes faster than before the upgrade of the route
* Two of the trains will run via Stoke, 35 minutes faster than before the modernisation project
* The third hourly service to Manchester will operate via Crewe - a route that will provide a new regular hourly service between Wilmslow and London with a journey time of just 1 hour 50 minutes.
* The fastest train from Manchester to London will run in the morning peak and will now take less than 2 hours
* A new through train service will link to Manchester Airport to Carlisle and Scotland
* A major improvement in weekend services, with journey times and frequencies close to weekday levels
The major increase in frequency and improvement in journey times for Manchester will build on the excellent growth in passenger numbers on this service since the first benefits of the West Coast upgrade were implemented in 2004.
The report also found that track improvements are being delivered on schedule, costs have been brought under control, reliability has been transformed and is exceeding target levels, and passenger numbers are up 30%.
Launching the report, Rail Minister Derek Twigg said: "This project has been a tremendous engineering feat, with over 1,200 miles of track laid already and improvements made so that trains can run at 125mph in tilt mode along the entire track. There is still hard work ahead, but credit must go to everyone involved in this remarkable project.
"Passengers have already seen faster journey times and improving reliability delivered by this project, and this is why so many more passengers are now using the West Coast Main Line. Now we have details of the second stage of benefits they will enjoy after the upgrade completes in 2008. These improvements from the project are even greater than we thought would be possible when this work started. Passengers on the West Coast Main Line can look forward to the future with confidence."
Notes to Editors
* A copy of the West Coast Main Line Progress Report is available on the DfT website at http://www.dft.gov.uk
* The timetable improvements once the project is completed in 2008 will be better than previously anticipated. The regular journey times and trains per hour frequency from London to Manchester will be:
London Pre-Project Current(2006) Latest Indicative
Euston Timetable for
to/from Post-project
Time(hrStops Freq Time(hr Stops Freq. Time(hr Stops Freq.
min) (tph) min) (tph) min) (tph)
Manchester 2h 41m 4 1 2h 15m 3 2 2h 06m 3 2
via Stoke
Manchester 2h 56m n/a 2/day n/a n/a 4/day 2h 08m 3 1
via Crewe
The fastest journey times on the route from London will be:
London Pre-Project Current(2006) Latest Indicative
Euston Timetable for
to/from Post-project
Time Stops Time Stops Time Stops
Manchester n/a n/a 2hr 05m 1 1h 59m 1
* The West Coast Main Line is 1,660 miles long and runs from Euston to Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, North Wales and Scotland. It is responsible for over 2,000 train movements each day and caters for over 75m passenger journeys every year.
* The engineering work completed so far includes line speed improvements throughout the route to 125mph in tilt mode, 1,266 miles of track renewed and 2,802 miles of signalling cable laid. Major individual projects that have been completed include the electrification of the line between Crewe and Kidsgrove.
* Remaining engineering work which will complete the modernisation project includes further improvements to speed up the line to London via Stoke-on-Trent.
* Work will also continue on developing and appraising a third platform at Manchester Airport, with a partnership between Network Rail and local organisations hoping to implement the scheme by the end of 2008.
ISSUED ON BEHALF OF THE DEPARTMENT FOR TRANSPORT BY GNN NORTH WEST
Press releases from DfT can be viewed on http://www.gnn.gov.uk
Department for Transport Great Minster House 76 Marsham Street London SW1P 4DR
Client ref DFT/NW/029/2006
GNN ref 133295P
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Other information
TRAINS EVERY 20 MINUTES TO LONDON FOR MANCHESTER PASSENGERS FOLLOWING UPGRADE OF WEST COAST MAIN LIN
© Crown Copyright 2006
Read and absurb - specifically the bit in bold.
http://www.gmpta.gov.uk/latest_news_detail.asp?newsid=41
http://www.gmpta.gov.uk/latest_news_detail.asp?newsid=41
Latest News« Back
Greater Manchester takes major step to securing more investment and control over public transport
The Association of Greater Manchester Authorities (AGMA) is set to start preliminary investigations into accessing money from the government's new Transport Innovation Fund (TIF), which is worth up to £1billion to the conurbation.
Local authorities can submit bids to TIF for major investment in trams, buses, road and rail, on the precondition that they look at inventive and innovative ways to tackle congestion, including congestion charging.
Greater Manchester's ten local authorities are working together to investigate the impact which congestion is having on the city region economy and where significant investment is needed in the transport system. AGMA has agreed that four robust tests (see notes to editors) need to be passed. There will be a full and detailed scrutiny, by a panel of independent business leaders and academic experts.
AGMA plans to submit a bid to the first round of TIF, which has a deadline of July 2007.
Leader of the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities, Lord Peter Smith, said: "We are the best performing economic region outside South East England. We want our successful economy to continue to grow and we believe that more than 200,000 extra jobs can be created over the next 10 years.
"For this to happen we need excellent transport and we need to secure significant investment in our transport systems, TIF will help us to achieve this."
Chair of the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority, Councillor Roger Jones, said: "It is vital we continue to enhance the economy of Greater Manchester, and for that to happen, we must secure greater influence over the way in which our public transport services are delivered.
"We have a long-established stance concerning congestion charging and road pricing, and that stance has not altered."
Leader of Manchester City Council and Deputy Leader of the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities, Sir Richard Leese, said: "We must ensure that inadequate public transport is not a barrier to the region's economic growth. At the same time if congestion is costing us jobs we need to tackle it. We do not oppose congestion charging in principle and if we, the public and businesses agree that it is necessary to keep Manchester moving, we will use it. However, we will not be looking at crude zoning like that in London."
A detailed report by officers concerning the TIF investigations is being considered by AGMA leaders who will meet on Friday September 29.
18/12/2006 11:19
Department for Transport (North West)
Government invests £213m to improve local transport in the north west
People in the North West will benefit from £213 million to improve local transport in the region, Transport Secretary Douglas Alexander announced today.
The investment is part of the Local Transport Capital Settlement given to local authorities each year to help them deliver transport improvements in their communities.
The money will fund a range of improvements, including new road safety measures, better street lighting, road maintenance, park and ride facilities and cycle lanes.
The North West will also benefit from £13.2 million through a specific road safety grant, announced last year. The grant means more money and flexibility for local authorities to deliver safer roads.
This year's investment delivers funding for 2007/08. Some of this year's money is awarded according to the performance of local authorities in delivering better transport over the first five year Local Transport Plan period. Another part is based on the quality of their plans to improve transport over the next five years.
This investment is in addition to the indicative funding for major transport projects in the North West for 2007/08 and 2008/09, worth £236 million, which was announced earlier this year as part of the Regional Funding Allocation process.
Douglas Alexander said:
"The Government has invested more than £9 billion in local transport across the country over the last six years. The improvements made with this money have benefited passengers, motorists and local businesses across the country.
"We have seen sustained progress in reducing local road casualties. The condition of many local road networks is improving. Better infrastructure for buses, cyclists and pedestrians has been put in place so local transport is making a contribution to more sustainable development and economic growth."
The Department reviewed the delivery of the first Local Transport Plans, which local authorities produced for 2001/02 to 2005/06. One example of the success in the North West highlighted in the review is the £32 million Quality Bus Corridor Network in Greater Manchester, which has provided substantial benefits to local bus passengers through new bus lanes and other improvements.
This announcement confirms the last four years of a ten year investment programme in public transport in Bolton and Wigan.
Integrated transport allocations totalling £1,769 million across the country for 2008/09 to 2010/11, subject only to next year's spending review, are included in today's announcement.
NOTES TO EDITORS
Today's investment is part of £1.25 billion nationally, which includes £683 million for highways capital maintenance and £571 million for smaller transport improvement schemes.
The central road safety grant of £110 million was announced in December 2005. It meant that cameras would be looked at as part of overall road safety plans, and replaced the previous system of funding safety cameras with fines. The original press notice can be found here.
Of the funding for highways capital maintenance, £634 million is being distributed formulaically. The remaining £49 million is being allocated in response to specific bids. These include bids for major maintenance and bridge strengthening on the primary route network and, for smaller authorities, bids for exceptional maintenance schemes.
The first Local Transport Plans (LTPs) were submitted in 2000 by all English local transport authorities outside London, containing an integrated transport strategy for their area and a costed programme of measures to improve local transport over the period 2001/02 to 2005/06. The Department has assessed the delivery of these plans against local and national objectives. In the North West, Merseyside Passenger Transport Authority and Halton Borough Council were assessed as delivering excellent performance. More detailed results of the review can be found here.
The second LTPs were submitted in March 2006, and have also been assessed by the Department. The attached table shows the 2007/08 allocations announced today for each of the local transport authorities in the North West and the assessment of their plans:
North West Funding Quality
Local Authority Allocations of 2nd
(£000s) Local
Transport
Plan
Integrated Maintenance Overall
Transport
Improvements
Blackburn with 1,830 1,960 3,790 Good
Darwen
Blackpool 2,225 868 3,093 Good
Cheshire 8,301 14,636 22,937 Fair
Cumbria 5,256 18,879 24,135 Fair
Greater 46,385 28,921 75,306 Good
Manchester
(Joint Plan)
Halton 1,958 2,192 4,150 Excellent
Lancashire 11,961 15,681 27,642 Good
Merseyside 36,504 10,028 46,532 Excellent
(Joint Plan)
Warrington 2,064 3,493 5,557 Good
Full details of individual local authority LTP allocations and performance throughout England are available on the Department's website.
Some examples of imrpovements paid for with money provided over the first LTP period include:
* Workwise and Joblink in Merseyside and Salford Local Link in Greater Manchester - projects which have supported the areas' regeneration by creating essential transport links (such as flexible minibuses) to employment.
* Chester Home Zone - £650,000 project (£140,000 of which is LTP money) to regenerate a residential neighbourhood through traffic calming, parking bays, lower speed limits and other measures.
* Rural Wheels demand responsive service in Cumbria, improving rural bus accessibility using commercial and voluntary transport, combined with smartcard technology.
* Liverpool City Council has used LTP money to fund the development of award winning work on pedestrian routes in the city centre.
* Bolton 4u - a Mobility and Access project investing £500,000 in providing access for the disabled to key local services and facilities, including the Royal Bolton Hospital.
* Silver Jubilee Bridge - an £8.5m major maintenance project in Halton to upgrade a Grade 2 listed structure to meet modern standards, using innovative and groundbreaking techniques. This work will continue into the second LTP period.
ISSUED ON BEHALF OF THE DEPARTMENT FOR TRANSPORT BY GNN NORTH WEST
Press releases from DfT can be viewed on http://www.gnn.gov.uk
Department for Transport Great Minster House 76 Marsham Street London SW1P 4DR
Client ref DFT/NW/071/2006
GNN ref 142152P
Department for Transport (North West)
Government invests £213m to improve local transport in the north west
People in the North West will benefit from £213 million to improve local transport in the region, Transport Secretary Douglas Alexander announced today.
The investment is part of the Local Transport Capital Settlement given to local authorities each year to help them deliver transport improvements in their communities.
The money will fund a range of improvements, including new road safety measures, better street lighting, road maintenance, park and ride facilities and cycle lanes.
The North West will also benefit from £13.2 million through a specific road safety grant, announced last year. The grant means more money and flexibility for local authorities to deliver safer roads.
This year's investment delivers funding for 2007/08. Some of this year's money is awarded according to the performance of local authorities in delivering better transport over the first five year Local Transport Plan period. Another part is based on the quality of their plans to improve transport over the next five years.
This investment is in addition to the indicative funding for major transport projects in the North West for 2007/08 and 2008/09, worth £236 million, which was announced earlier this year as part of the Regional Funding Allocation process.
Douglas Alexander said:
"The Government has invested more than £9 billion in local transport across the country over the last six years. The improvements made with this money have benefited passengers, motorists and local businesses across the country.
"We have seen sustained progress in reducing local road casualties. The condition of many local road networks is improving. Better infrastructure for buses, cyclists and pedestrians has been put in place so local transport is making a contribution to more sustainable development and economic growth."
The Department reviewed the delivery of the first Local Transport Plans, which local authorities produced for 2001/02 to 2005/06. One example of the success in the North West highlighted in the review is the £32 million Quality Bus Corridor Network in Greater Manchester, which has provided substantial benefits to local bus passengers through new bus lanes and other improvements.
This announcement confirms the last four years of a ten year investment programme in public transport in Bolton and Wigan.
Integrated transport allocations totalling £1,769 million across the country for 2008/09 to 2010/11, subject only to next year's spending review, are included in today's announcement.
NOTES TO EDITORS
Today's investment is part of £1.25 billion nationally, which includes £683 million for highways capital maintenance and £571 million for smaller transport improvement schemes.
The central road safety grant of £110 million was announced in December 2005. It meant that cameras would be looked at as part of overall road safety plans, and replaced the previous system of funding safety cameras with fines. The original press notice can be found here.
Of the funding for highways capital maintenance, £634 million is being distributed formulaically. The remaining £49 million is being allocated in response to specific bids. These include bids for major maintenance and bridge strengthening on the primary route network and, for smaller authorities, bids for exceptional maintenance schemes.
The first Local Transport Plans (LTPs) were submitted in 2000 by all English local transport authorities outside London, containing an integrated transport strategy for their area and a costed programme of measures to improve local transport over the period 2001/02 to 2005/06. The Department has assessed the delivery of these plans against local and national objectives. In the North West, Merseyside Passenger Transport Authority and Halton Borough Council were assessed as delivering excellent performance. More detailed results of the review can be found here.
The second LTPs were submitted in March 2006, and have also been assessed by the Department. The attached table shows the 2007/08 allocations announced today for each of the local transport authorities in the North West and the assessment of their plans:
North West Funding Quality
Local Authority Allocations of 2nd
(£000s) Local
Transport
Plan
Integrated Maintenance Overall
Transport
Improvements
Blackburn with 1,830 1,960 3,790 Good
Darwen
Blackpool 2,225 868 3,093 Good
Cheshire 8,301 14,636 22,937 Fair
Cumbria 5,256 18,879 24,135 Fair
Greater 46,385 28,921 75,306 Good
Manchester
(Joint Plan)
Halton 1,958 2,192 4,150 Excellent
Lancashire 11,961 15,681 27,642 Good
Merseyside 36,504 10,028 46,532 Excellent
(Joint Plan)
Warrington 2,064 3,493 5,557 Good
Full details of individual local authority LTP allocations and performance throughout England are available on the Department's website.
Some examples of imrpovements paid for with money provided over the first LTP period include:
* Workwise and Joblink in Merseyside and Salford Local Link in Greater Manchester - projects which have supported the areas' regeneration by creating essential transport links (such as flexible minibuses) to employment.
* Chester Home Zone - £650,000 project (£140,000 of which is LTP money) to regenerate a residential neighbourhood through traffic calming, parking bays, lower speed limits and other measures.
* Rural Wheels demand responsive service in Cumbria, improving rural bus accessibility using commercial and voluntary transport, combined with smartcard technology.
* Liverpool City Council has used LTP money to fund the development of award winning work on pedestrian routes in the city centre.
* Bolton 4u - a Mobility and Access project investing £500,000 in providing access for the disabled to key local services and facilities, including the Royal Bolton Hospital.
* Silver Jubilee Bridge - an £8.5m major maintenance project in Halton to upgrade a Grade 2 listed structure to meet modern standards, using innovative and groundbreaking techniques. This work will continue into the second LTP period.
ISSUED ON BEHALF OF THE DEPARTMENT FOR TRANSPORT BY GNN NORTH WEST
Press releases from DfT can be viewed on http://www.gnn.gov.uk
Department for Transport Great Minster House 76 Marsham Street London SW1P 4DR
Client ref DFT/NW/071/2006
GNN ref 142152P
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6520877.stm
Rail network given cash injection
Network Rail is investing in new tracks and improving stations
Network Rail has announced plans to invest £2.4bn in railway expansion over the next two years.
The schemes will include lengthening hundreds of platforms, introducing speed increases on certain lines, new tracks and major resignalling.
The improvements will be carried out from this month to March 2009.
Chief executive John Armitt said the investment was a response by Network Rail to the rising demand for rail travel in the UK.
Network Rail will provide £1.73bn in funding, with the rest of the money coming from other sources such as the Department for Transport and local authorities.
Some of the schemes that are to be introduced over the next two years include projects connected with the 2012 Olympics, on which £109 million will be spent by March 2009.
There are also new platforms planned at Manchester Airport station and at King's Cross in London as well as £165m of new track in the Trent Valley.
RAIL INVESTMENT HIGHLIGHTS
New line from Airdrie to Bathgate - £214m (£300m in total)
London Olympics schemes - £109m (£400m)
Trent Valley track doubling scheme - £165m (£300m)
Thameslink station at St Pancras - £78m (£78m)
New station at East Midlands Parkway - £24m - (£24m)
Mr Armitt said: "Three million people use the railways each day, more than at any time in the past 60 years, and we're not standing still waiting for the big infrastructure projects to be delivered.
Mr Armitt told the BBC that the investment would make the experience of using trains "better".
He said: "The improvements we're making, particularly on lengthening platforms, will enable longer trains which reduces overcrowding.
"Improving stations makes people's travel experience better; improving car parks enables them to use the trains and to get less hassle on their journey in the mornings and in the evenings."
The announcement comes after a difficult period for Network Rail. In February, the company accepted the initial findings of a preliminary rail accident investigation which said the train derailment in Cumbria, in which one person died, was caused by faulty points.
Then the Office of Rail Regulation said it was concerned the company was underspending on the railways.
And last week Network Rail was fined £4 million for Health and Safety at Work Act breaches by its predecessor Railtrack in connection with the 1999 Paddington rail crash, which killed 31 people.
Rail network given cash injection
Network Rail is investing in new tracks and improving stations
Network Rail has announced plans to invest £2.4bn in railway expansion over the next two years.
The schemes will include lengthening hundreds of platforms, introducing speed increases on certain lines, new tracks and major resignalling.
The improvements will be carried out from this month to March 2009.
Chief executive John Armitt said the investment was a response by Network Rail to the rising demand for rail travel in the UK.
Network Rail will provide £1.73bn in funding, with the rest of the money coming from other sources such as the Department for Transport and local authorities.
Some of the schemes that are to be introduced over the next two years include projects connected with the 2012 Olympics, on which £109 million will be spent by March 2009.
There are also new platforms planned at Manchester Airport station and at King's Cross in London as well as £165m of new track in the Trent Valley.
RAIL INVESTMENT HIGHLIGHTS
New line from Airdrie to Bathgate - £214m (£300m in total)
London Olympics schemes - £109m (£400m)
Trent Valley track doubling scheme - £165m (£300m)
Thameslink station at St Pancras - £78m (£78m)
New station at East Midlands Parkway - £24m - (£24m)
Mr Armitt said: "Three million people use the railways each day, more than at any time in the past 60 years, and we're not standing still waiting for the big infrastructure projects to be delivered.
Mr Armitt told the BBC that the investment would make the experience of using trains "better".
He said: "The improvements we're making, particularly on lengthening platforms, will enable longer trains which reduces overcrowding.
"Improving stations makes people's travel experience better; improving car parks enables them to use the trains and to get less hassle on their journey in the mornings and in the evenings."
The announcement comes after a difficult period for Network Rail. In February, the company accepted the initial findings of a preliminary rail accident investigation which said the train derailment in Cumbria, in which one person died, was caused by faulty points.
Then the Office of Rail Regulation said it was concerned the company was underspending on the railways.
And last week Network Rail was fined £4 million for Health and Safety at Work Act breaches by its predecessor Railtrack in connection with the 1999 Paddington rail crash, which killed 31 people.
It will not happen I fear, but it is exactly what we need.
A direct train service to Paris and the continent is a sure winner for me, even at lower speeds across some of the UK.
Ealier this year I travelled by train to Lille, the Virgin train down to Euston was fine, as was the Eurostar to Lille, the problem was the 2 hour gap between getting off at Euston and the train leaving Waterloo.
A direct train service to Paris and the continent is a sure winner for me, even at lower speeds across some of the UK.
Ealier this year I travelled by train to Lille, the Virgin train down to Euston was fine, as was the Eurostar to Lille, the problem was the 2 hour gap between getting off at Euston and the train leaving Waterloo.
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