Main line opportunities and our response to National Infrastructure Assessment
EEH publishes rail opportunities study
Improvements to the region’s rail lines which would boost sustainable economic growth are detailed in a new plan from England’s Economic Heartland.
The Rail Strategic Objectives report, based on extensive engagement with stakeholders and building off the EEH evidence base, consolidates high-level objectives for both passenger and freight services – ensuring government, transport bodies and the private sector have a clear and consistent understanding of the region’s rail requirements.
Designed to realise economic growth and encourage modal shift to rail, the report contains a mixture of short, medium and long-term objectives.
They include improving journeys between places where rail connectivity is currently limited; creating strategic multi-transport interchanges, enhancing capacity and frequencies; better rail access to airports; and increasing freight flows, such as those between Felixstowe and the Midlands and North.
England’s Economic Heartland will now work with the sector to progress the interventions, including through the Wider South East Rail Partnership, a powerful new alliance which will bring EEH together with Great British Railways, Network Rail, Transport East, Transport for the South East and Transport for London.
Cllr Liz Leffman, Chair of England’s Economic Heartland, said: “EEH’s geography covers almost all of the major main lines on Britain’s rail network – with East West Rail set to cross them all.
“This report shows how we can make better use of the main lines for the benefit of our communities, businesses and the wider transport network – unlocking economic opportunities while offering a realistic alternative to cars and lorries to reduce emissions.
“The objectives are a mixture of relatively small-scale interventions and more significant schemes over a range of timescales, including for example increasing access to stations by creating multimodal hubs and enhancing capacity for passenger and freight movements.”
Our view on the National Infrastructure Assessment
On Wednesday the National Infrastructure Commission published its ‘Second National Infrastructure Assessment’, providing government with advice on the UK's long-term infrastructure needs.
England’s Economic Heartland welcomes its recommendation to give all county and unitary authorities devolved long-term transport budgets. This is something EEH’s Board has consistently asked for. It would give local authorities – who know their areas better than anyone else - the certainty to plan in a genuinely strategic way – supported by sub-national transport bodies such as EEH.
The NIC has recommended a 20 per cent increase on current spending levels for transport infrastructure and says sub-national transport bodies have a key role in identifying opportunities for transport to support regional and local economic growth. We welcome this and already have the evidence in place to back up identified investment priorities.
The report also recognises the leading role that local authorities have in the roll-out of electric vehicle charging infrastructure. EEH is already helping its partners plan public charging points, but as the NIC points out, to achieve the increase required, local authorities must be sufficiently equipped and supported.
Much of the report is focused on the needs of large metropolitan areas – and particularly four of the UK’s biggest cities. Given this is a ‘national’ infrastructure assessment, we find this focus disappointing. It ignores the very real challenge for swathes of the country – including the EEH region – where growing cities, towns and economic areas such as the Silverstone cluster pack a punch way above their size. Identifying and funding solutions to improve connectivity in these places is vital, whether that be ensuring we maximise opportunities enabled by East West Rail, improve bus services, ensure our strategic roads are fit for purpose or develop mass transit systems in places such as Milton Keynes, Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire.
HERT project receives innovation funding boost
An EEH supported project examining the feasibility of autonomous rapid transit between Hertfordshire and Essex, has been awarded government innovation funding.
The HERT (Hertfordshire Essex Rapid Transit) study which focuses on dedicated driverless spaces was awarded £134,984 in funding, extending the project. The project supported by Hertfordshire County Council, EEH, City Science and StreetDrone, aims to create segregated routes for autonomous vehicles. It will link Watford and St Albans town centres.
The HertsLynx Connected and Automated Mobility On-Demand project also received £115,748. It aims to study a self-driving service using on demand responsive transport technology serving passengers in the Maylands Business Park area.
The government funding to local authorities and regional transport operators is for studies into how self-driving vehicle technology could be cheaper, emit less carbon, and increase transport safety and security.
What are the transport priorities for West Northamptonshire?
We spoke to Cllr Phil Larratt, Cabinet Member for Environment, Transport, Highways and Waste at West Northamptonshire Council to find out more about the authority's priorities and why he's looking forward to the EEH conference.
EEH Conference - Two Weeks to go!
Spaces are filling up quickly for the fast approaching EEH annual conference.
The event, held at Cambridge Guildhall on November 1, promises to be our most engaging line-up of speakers and panellists to date.
Delegates will hear from (and be able to put their questions to) the region's political leaders alongside senior figures and experts from local authorities, DfT, transport bodies, businesses, consultancies and universities - across a programme which we hope strikes an exciting balance between keynote speeches, panel discussions, break-out sessions and networking opportunities.
Don't forget, following the close of the main conference, we will also be hosting the launch of EEH's brand new early careers network, an exciting event for anyone who considers themselves an early stage professional. Make sure you secure your place by registering today!
EEH presents lecture to Oxford Brookes students
EEH project lead Trevor Brennan and external affairs manager Adam King gave a lecture to Oxford Brookes University students earlier this month.
It formed part of the 'Strategic Planning and Policy' module being studied by third year undergraduates at the university's School of the Built Environment.
Trevor (pictured) and Adam provided their insight on East West Rail and mobility hubs.
Other sessions for the students will include 'urban & regional rebalancing' and 'planning and politics in Oxford and Oxfordshire'.
£200 million to drive innovation and get more zero emission trucks on our roads
Government has announced £200 million of funding for innovation and zero emission trucks. This will help create new jobs and provide crucial infrastructure to help the haulage sector to decarbonise.
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The funding will be allocated across four innovative sustainable projects, rolling out up to 370 zero emission HGVs. Currently HGVs alone contribute 20% to all UK transport emissions, with the projects aiming to reduce this.
Additionally £2.4 million has been unlocked in the Freight Innovation Fund, aiming to drive innovation in freight and logistics.
News of interest
Have a job opportunity you would like to promote?
Job opportunities in the Heartland.
If you're an EEH partner and have a job opportunity you'd like to share through this newsletter, please contact Erin Pitcher: erin.pitcher@englandseconomicheartland.com
Transport Planning Day 2023 Launched!
Transport Planning Day is returning this year on 13th November, held by the Transport Planning Society.
This year focus on planning and delivering for a rapid and equitable transition to a decarbonised transport system.
The day will explore and highlight how transport planners, with support from the government, can tackle the socio-economic problems that arise from the transition to a zero-emission network, and the role transport planners will play in planning and delivering this transition.
Dates for your diary
NOVEMBER
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