SYSTRA UK & Ireland’s Post

We have launched a report today - High Speed Rail: Exploiting the Potential, that outlines five recommendations for the next Government, which if implemented would allow the UK to deliver the new capacity and connectivity which it desperately needs to grow sustainably. We believe that a comprehensive long-term strategy to develop the UK’s inter urban rail network is essential for future economic growth and achieving net zero. We urge political figures on all sides to look beyond HS2 and take a fresh approach to maximise the vast potential of high speed rail in the UK. Recommendation one - develop, and stick to, a comprehensive long-term strategy for both North-South and East-West travel, prioritising the link from Birmingham to the North West, and the route across the north of England from Liverpool to Hull. To avoid an ever great clogged up road network. #rail #highspeedrail #infrastructure #connectivitymatters #railways #hs2 #railcapacity #railconnections #railpassengers #railfreight #longtermplanning #transportconnectivity #sustainabletravel #netzero https://lnkd.in/dnvpV_kr

As an industry group, we will continue to push for a truly national HSR network in Britain. In our latest report ‘High Speed Rail: Exploiting the Potential’ we note the future capacity gap caused by the curtailment of Phase 2 of HS2 – and set out a five-point plan for the next Government that would allow the UK to begin the process of reversing the negative trend experienced across major UK infrastructure projects over the last few years. We urge the next Government to be decisive, consistent and imaginative, in order to rebuild industry confidence, not only in the rail sector but across the wide variety of areas HSR would help improve, or risk failing to realise the immense potential of HSR for a generation or more. #highspeedrail #hsr #highspeedrailnetwork #connectivitymatters #rail #railways #transportconnectivity #infrastructure #lowcarboninfrastructure https://lnkd.in/dnvpV_kr

🔍 04/10: 𝗔 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗥𝗮𝗶𝗹 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 🚂 🇬🇧 It’s been a year since the contentious decision on 4th October 2024 to cancel HS2’s northern leg to 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿. The announcement sent shockwaves across the UK and sparked debate over its long-term impact on regional development. What was meant to be a transformative project, connecting the North and Midlands, has instead left Manchester facing capacity bottlenecks and the risk of economic stagnation. Throughout 2024, leaders, industry bodies, and think tanks have analysed the fallout and proposed solutions. From the call for a Midlands-North West Rail Link (𝗠𝗡𝗪𝗥𝗟) to pushing for Northern Powerhouse Rail (𝗡𝗣𝗥), the consensus is clear: The North’s potential can only be unlocked through sustained investment. 📈 Manchester—the heartbeat of the region—must be at the centre of any future rail strategy, ensuring it is connecting cities, businesses, and communities. 𝗙𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁 𝗢𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀: 🌇 Midlands-North West Rail Link (MNWRL): Proposed as a replacement, the MNWRL could deliver 𝟴𝟱% of HS2’s benefits at a fraction of the costs (c.60-75%). However, without a firm commitment, Manchester could see rail capacity shrink within a decade. https://lnkd.in/ewubYQUW 🏗️ National Infrastructure Commission (NIC): The NIC argues the cancellation has left a gaping hole in the North’s strategy, risking Manchester’s growth and worsening congestion. https://lnkd.in/eQuaWUXW 💷 National Audit Office (NAO): With £100 million in sunk costs and West Coast Main Line capacity hitting its limit by the mid-2030s, the NAO warns Manchester could face transport congestion without urgent intervention. https://lnkd.in/ewSsxzjJ 🚄 High Speed Rail Group (HSRG): The North stands to lose £𝟵𝟲𝗯𝗻 in economic benefits. The HSRG calls for immediate investment in alternatives to prevent a widening North-South divide. https://lnkd.in/eAdBghf3 🚉The Rail and Urban Transport review (UTG) The cancellation of HS2 Phase 2 reflects a lack of long-term strategic planning, resulting in a loss of investor confidence, and highlights the need for a clear, coordinated national transport strategy. https://lnkd.in/ewF7HPiT 🛤️ 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗩𝗲𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗰𝘁: Reflecting on 2024, it’s clear that any new strategy must not only resolve the existing capacity constraints but also tackle those exacerbated by HS2’s cancellation. This means reaffirming Manchester as the pivotal hub for the North’s rail network and building a new rail line that enhances capacity between the Midlands and the North. The goal should be to ensure that Manchester becomes a central, well-connected transport hub that drives economic opportunities for the entire region and the UK as a whole. 🇬🇧 🚂 #HS2 #Rail #Manchester #NorthernPowerhouse #NIC #NAO #HSRG #Arup #UTG

East West Rail: A Long-Awaited Boost or Another Costly Overreach? 🚆💰 The long-discussed East West Rail project is once again in the spotlight, with fresh investment announced to enhance connectivity across the Oxford-Cambridge arc. With new services planned between Oxford and Milton Keynes and an upgrade to the A428 between Milton Keynes and Cambridge, the vision is clear: better regional transport, stronger economic links, and a boost for the UK. But is this investment going to deliver what’s promised? East West Rail has faced criticism for years—ballooning costs, delays, and a lack of clarity in its long-term vision. Some have called it a ‘mess,’ plagued by budget overruns and uncertainty about its final form. Will this latest funding injection finally get the project back on track? With other major projects also announced—like the government backed Heathrow third runway—should we be asking if this money could be better spent elsewhere? 🚉🔍 More investment in clean transport? A sharper focus on AI and tech hubs?Better investment in HS2 or new Rail projects in the UK? Or do we double down on the East West Rail vision and finally get it right? Would love to hear thoughts—should we still be backing this project, or is it time to rethink priorities? 👇 #Infrastructure #EastWestRail #Investment #Transport Will Hamilton-Smith David Baisan Mark Budd George Day Will Jones Oli Behrendt Zac Conley https://lnkd.in/esciWx_E

"Britain’s rail system feels increasingly like a relic" 🚂 📰 Professor Feng Li of Bayes Business School has written for The Conversation UK on the ongoing disruption to Britain's rail network, suggesting it is a reminder of how far the UK has fallen behind in its critical infrastructure ⬇️ https://ow.ly/sx9n50UsqFp

🚆 Cambridge Ahead Response to East West Rail Consultation 🚆   Public transport is critical to the sustainable and inclusive growth of the Cambridge city region, and beyond. The need to deliver new infrastructure, at scale and pace, is acute.   We are pleased to have submitted our response to the East West Rail (EWR) consultation on the preliminary design concepts for the Bedford to Cambridge rail link. With the consultation closing on 24 January 2025, we’ve highlighted key points. Here are some of the key messages from our submission:   🌍 Supporting Regional Growth We strongly support the need for East West Rail and the transformative impact it will have on the Cambridge city region. Connecting innovation hubs such as Oxford, Bedford, and Milton Keynes will drive economic growth, potentially doubling the region’s GVA by 2030.   🚉 Unlocking Future Opportunities EWR presents significant potential for good growth, particularly with the proposed turnback at Cherry Hinton, which could create the capacity for a future station in a key location in the East of the city. ⚡ Electrification & Net Zero Goals We support the partial electrification of the EWR line and urge further clarity on emissions and technical aspects to ensure the project aligns with net-zero objectives. We also back the ongoing modelling and surveys to assess the viability of hybrid battery-electric trains.   🏙️ Addressing Transport Challenges The EWR link will help alleviate congestion in Cambridge, improve air quality, and enhance public transport reliability—complementing the Greater Cambridge Partnership’s infrastructure programme.   📅 Looking Ahead As the consultation moves towards a statutory phase in late 2025, Cambridge Ahead remains committed to engaging in the process to ensure the region’s needs are reflected in the final plans.   We believe East West Rail will play a crucial role in unlocking economic potential and fostering sustainable growth across Cambridge and beyond.   The consultation is open until 24 January 2025, so there is still time to submit your response. Visit: https://lnkd.in/eAsnj6e4 to share your views.   #EastWestRail #Transport #InnovationEconomy #SustainableGrowth #NetZero #RailConnectivity #PublicTransport #Infrastructure

Government infrastructure advisers have recently voiced a pivotal recommendation: the UK needs a robust, long-term strategic plan for its rail network ✍️ This plan aims to address the critical challenges of today and prepare for the technological and environmental demands of tomorrow. Key focus areas highlighted include sustainability, innovation in rail technology, and building a resilient infrastructure that can withstand future economic and climatic pressures 🌐 By aligning short-term actions with long-term objectives, the strategy seeks not only to improve the efficiency and reliability of train services but also to enhance passenger experiences and reduce the environmental impact of rail operations.  The ultimate goal is to create a rail system that is both adaptable to future developments and sustainable for generations to come ⚖️ What features do you think should be prioritised in the UK's long-term rail strategy to best meet future challenges? #UKRail #TransportStrategy #SustainableRail #FutureRail #RailInnovation #deployrecruit [Source: railmagazine.com]

A new report from High Speed Rail Group (HSRG) highlights the significant potential for high speed rail in the UK. City-to-city train travel is crucial for future economic growth and achieving net zero, but its success requires “long-term policies that will help to develop long-term investment”, says HSRG Chair, and former CEO of HS1, Dyan Perry (nee Crowther) in an interview with Times Radio. Longevity and reliability are central to HS1’s role as the UK’s first and only high-speed rail line. As we look to a future with more capacity and choice for passengers on the line, HS1 is in prime position to support the growing demand for high speed rail travel in the UK and to Europe, and to meet the challenges outlined in the report. The rail industry and the Government must work together to overcome the gaps in investment, skills and certainty highlighted by HSRG, whilst seizing the opportunities for connectivity, economic growth and decarbonisation. Read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/dnvpV_kr

What did you get up to on your Wednesday night? Posting an image of the Transport points from today.. 💭 Been a busy day with strategy meetings in Rail HQ, so only catching up on the Kings speech/ Labour plans today. Quick check on BBC News - here are the Transport Headlines! 1. GBR all systems go as planned 2. Northern Rail investment from HS2 confirmed As planned but great to see. Plus quicker and potentially better reforms around certain Infrastructure bills - hopefully creating a more efficient model and process for major decisions #KingsSpeech #Reform #Rail #Transport #Infrastructure

East West Rail’s next consultation starts tomorrow (see https://lnkd.in/en6D7wdr). Railfuture has been campaigning for a rail link between Oxford and Cambridge since the mid-1990s. Neil Middleton Railfuture Vice Chair commented: “We are keen that East West Rail is a high performing railway, both operationally and in the services that can run on it once it is fully in use. We think the northern route from Bedford is the right choice – it will be able to serve all the housing planned near the route and to miss them out would just be wrong. “We’ve thought long and hard about services on the Marston Vale line and find ourselves in the unusual position of supporting station closures – we’ve concluded that more frequent services from fewer stations is the better option – of course, that needs to be combined with the facilities and services to get to and from those new stations. “We’re hoping to see consultation on links that allow EWR to be the most useful possible railway. That includes a connection from east to north at Bletchley and taking a proper look at Cambridge. We don’t think the central station is the right destination – EWR services should become cross-Cambridge services, terminating at Waterbeach and a new station at Cambridge East on the line to Newmarket.” “On achieving a green railway, the suggestion is discontinuous electrification. Whilst that could easily be the right choice for a dedicated fleet of rolling stock shuttling between Oxford and Cambridge four times per hour, the Railfuture view is that East West Rail must not become an island – there are a lot of perfectly good electric trains around and with full electrification services like Cambridge Northampton become much more feasible. Full electrification is also a freight service enabler – we can understand that those near the line don’t want diesel freight locos with their higher noise and fumes; an electric freight train is a much better neighbour. Railfuture will be reading the consultation materials quickly and in detail and our page at https://lnkd.in/evcgkd9A will soon start to have much more content as we digest the consultation documents and questions and prepare our own submission. In the meantime, you can sign up for updates on the same page. #EastWestRail #EWR