Connecting Communities

ATOC took a top down approach to the method of identifying possible sites for introducing new services and infrastructure, by first identifying areas and communities not well served by the current national network, and then comparing those with opportunities for development based on simple reinstatement or existing lines or the construction of relatively short new lines. This approach took into account the fact that many communities had grown in population since losing a previous service, and others had been entirely built without a rail connection.

Using demographic and industry data, ATOC compared the usage levels of passenger rail in other well-served areas of the country, and determined a baseline population figure of 15,000 (based on the 2001 census), above which level, communities were considered potential candidates for commercially viable new schemes.

These potential locations were then compared with a map of the lines and services that had been cut in the Beeching Axe of the 1960s, and beyond. This identified a candidate list of 75 possible communities, which were further reduced based on an analysis using passenger demand forecasting, local traffic congestion levels, local commuting patterns, the feasibility of any new rail route, the capital cost, and the proximity of existing rail access locations.

Many options were eliminated due to the loss of important permanent way features such as bridges, although many of the remaining proposals include construction of new level crossings and in at least one case the construction of a new bridge.

The 35 locations that remained after this analysis were then evaluated further against the use of possible new services by customers, taking into account for example factors such as local traffic congestion, to give a benefit-cost ratio (BCR) figure for each scheme, which determined whether these schemes would be included in the report as commercially viable in the opinion of ATOC.

Of the 35 schemes identified in the report Methodology, the final report detailed 14 schemes involving line and station development which had an indicated benefit-cost ratio (BCR) of greater than 1, when examined with proposed new passenger services, meaning that the possible new services would be commercially viable. The report summarised the remaining schemes analysed with a BCR of less than 1, on the basis that there could be a net benefit of the schemes when taking into account regeneration and expansion that would occur if the scheme was implemented.

Of the 14 schemes with a BCR above 1, six are on existing freight or heritage railway lines, three are on recently closed freight only lines and the remaining five use part of the permanent way of lines closed in the past. The Heritage Railways involved include the Paignton and Dartmouth Steam Railway and the East Lancashire Railway.

Eight of these 14 schemes involve the extension or diversion of existing passenger services. The remaining six would require new services to be integrated into the existing capacity on the main lines they connect to.

Three of the schemes also link currently separate parts of the network, Leicester – Burton, Washington (Leamside Line) and Brownhills (Walsall – Lichfield line), bringing possible additional benefits for freight traffic and provision of diversionary routes.

The 14 schemes with a BCR greater than 1 were as follows:

Marked out for additional mention was the reopening of Portishead railway station on an existing freight route, which, although determined as having a BCR of 0.6, it was believed this would be raised above 1.0 if evaluated based upon up to date figures, due on very high local population growth post-2001, and heavy traffic congestion at Junction 19 of the M5 Motorway.

The report identified seven possible locations for new Park and Ride stations (a.k.a. Parkway stations) to be built on existing passenger lines, to serve communities with a population of 15,000 or more. These schemes all had Benefit-cost ratios (BCRs) of over 1.7, up to 10.2. The locations are as follows:

• Ashby de la Zouch
• Ashington
• Bagworth (See Bagworth)
• Bedlington (See Bedlington)
• Bordon (See Bordon)
• Bramley & Wonersh
• Brownhills
• Bury (Bolton Street)
• Coalville
• Churston (for Brixham)
• Clay Cross/North Wingfield Parkway (See Clay Cross and North Wingfield)
• Cranleigh
• Fleetwood
• Goodrington Sands
• Gresley (for Swadlincote) (See Swadlincote)
• Heywood
• Hythe (See Hythe, Hampshire)
• Ilkeston
• Irwell Vale
• Kenilworth
• Kirby Muxloe
• Moira (see Moira, Leicestershire)
• Newsham (for Blyth) (See Blyth)
• Ossett Parkway (See Ossett)
• Pelsall
• Peterlee Parkway (See Peterlee)
• Portishead
• Ramsbottom
• Rawtenstall
• Ringwood
• Rushden Parkway (See Rushden)
• Seaton Delaval (See Seaton Delaval)
• Skelmersdale
• Summerseat
• Thornton
• Wantage & Grove Parkway (See Wantage and Grove)
• Washington
• Westhead (possible addition to the Skelmersdale scheme)
• Wisbech Town (See Wisbech)
• Wisbech Parkway (See Wisbech)

The ATOC report also identified 16 potential 'link lines' on the existing rail network where new services could be run as part of National Rail services, but not with the primary purpose of opening new stations. These would bring the benefit of providing new journey opportunities for passengers, as well as more options for diversionary routes for traffic on the national network. None of these would provide new stations for populations over 15,000, and as such none of the link lines were evaluated for a specific benefit-cost ratio (BCR), but were evaluated as physically feasible. The links identified were as follows:

• Bishop Stortford – Braintree – Colchester
• Burscough Curves
• Chessington South – Leatherhead
• Glazebrook – Partington[3]
• Lewes – Uckfield
• Matlock – Buxton
• March – Spalding
• Oxford – Bletchley with Manton curve
• Northampton – Bedford
• Rugby – Peterborough
• Skipton – Colne
• Stafford – Wellington
• Stourbridge – Walsall
• Whelley Lines
• Willingdon Chord, north of Eastbourne
• Woodhead line

• List of closed railway stations in Britain
• Rail transport in Great Britain