REOPENING 33 sections of railway across Britain could bring 500,000 more people within walking distance of a main line station, generating an extra 20 million journeys every year, according to a new report by the Campaign for Better Transport (CBT).
At an estimated overall cost of between £4.76billion and £6.39bn, 343 miles of passenger railway could be added, employing 166 miles of reopened route and 177 miles of freight-only lines upgraded to passenger standards.
Projects across England, Wales and Scotland would be implemented in two phases, with Phase 1 between 2020 and 2025 costed at £1.28bn and £1.81bn, and the more complex
longer-term schemes costing between £3.48bn and £4.58bn, following between 2025 and 2035.
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Read more in the March 2019 issue of The RM – on sale now!