Most Popular Tags
Search
| Hi Speed Rail and No Rail |
 |
 |
 |
| Written by Gordon Prentice | ||||||
| Monday, 28 February 2011 22:14 | ||||||
|
Now that the Government is consulting on whether to invest £17 billion on HS2 (and I approve) spare a thought for the little band of volunteers who would like to spend a tiny fraction of this sum to re-open an 11 mile stretch of line between Colne and Skipton which was ripped up in 1970. The Skipton East Lancashire Railway Action Partnership (or SELRAP) marks its 10th anniversary this year. It has been a decade of tireless activity; consulting, cajoling and signing up an impressive array of opinion formers, business and other organisations. And hardly a train-spotter to be seen. Everyone is on board. Even the local Lib Dems - who were initially sceptical. They, too, have been won over. And yet it still feels as if SELRAP are pushing a giant boulder uphill. What on earth does it take to make things happen? Fortunately, I have the answer. The Department of Transport should set up a dedicated team, bursting with enthusiasm, to work with SELRAP -and organisations like it - that have demonstrated the case for bringing dismantled railways back into use. (Norman Baker take note.) HS2 is likely to cost around £130 million per mile compared with the minuscule £3.6m or £6.9m (single or double track) per mile to link Colne to Skipton again. The cost is incredibly modest and the benefits obvious to all. So… Let’s get on with it. No need to consult on this one. 
|
||||||
| Last Updated on Monday, 28 February 2011 23:23 |
