The Great UK Road-Rail Paradox
24 December 2010
Dr John Stubbs cycled 300 miles as part of his study work.
Railway improvements, particularly re-opening formerly closed railways, benefit all travellers - be they car drivers or rail passengers.
”Dr John Stubbs; Senior Lecturer in Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of Derby.
The railway line between Athenry and Ennis, Ireland; closed 1976 and reopened in 2010.
The increasing popularity of the motor car threatened the very future of Britain's railways in the era of the Dr Beeching cuts - but one transport expert now suggests cars and trains have become reliant on each other to prosper.
In the 1960s, Dr Richard Beeching was the main author of the Government document The Reshaping of British Railways. The report's controversial conclusions were that only drastic action would save the railways from increasing financial losses. Consequently more than 4,000 miles of Britain's railways and 3,000 stations closed in the decade following the report, a reduction of 25% in route miles and 50% of stations.
In his latest study, Dr John Stubbs from the University of Derby has looked at several railway lines axed in the wake of Beeching's report which have been, or are to be, re-opened across the British Isles.
A keen public transport enthusiast, Dr Stubbs visited several railway projects in Scotland, Ireland and Wales this summer in a three-week round visit from Derby covering around 300 miles by bicycle and 500 by train.
He said: "What was of particular interest was how each of the railway projects has, paradoxically, developed in the wake of substantial investment in the nearby road infrastructure and so the railway re-openings were not taking place in isolation from the road network.
"Railway improvements, particularly re-opening formerly closed railways, benefit all travellers - be they car drivers or rail passengers. This undermines the often heard argument that rail improvements only benefit rail users."
Dr Stubbs is a Senior Lecturer in Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences at Derby and has produced a presentation as part of his ongoing research entitled Railway re-openings and 21st Century transportation policy; the road-rail paradox. The research is being conducted jointly with Dr Stuart Berry, Senior Lecturer in Mathematics, also at the University of Derby.
Dr Stubbs' journey on rail and bike in June took in:
Scotland
- Borders Railway from Edinburgh to Carlisle (closed 1969); Edinburgh to Galashiels/Tweedbank (set to reopen in 2014);
- Bathgate and Airdrie (closed 1956) (reconstruction completed, set to reopen 2011);
- Stirling - Alloa - Kincardine (closed 1968, reopened 2009)
Ireland
- Western Rail Corridor from Sligo to Limerick: Railway line between Athenry and Ennis (closed 1976, reopened 2010); Glounthaune to Midleton Railway (closed 1970s reopened 2009)
Wales
- Ebbw Valley Railway Line: Cardiff to Ebbw Vale Parkway (closed 1962, reopened 2008).
Dr Stubbs argues that if at least some of the railways axed by Beeching were to re-open, more car drivers could divert to rail for a faster journey. The crucial point is that trains do not slow down through attracting more passengers, whereas cars certainly do when roads attract more traffic.
Additionally any reduction of cars on the road consequent upon re-opened railways enables the remaining road traffic to go faster as there is less congestion, so all travellers benefit. And, again paradoxically, to improve the roads, improve the railways.
Unfortunately only a few railway lines in Scotland, Ireland and Wales are set to re-open and none in England are currently planned for re-opening. But where railways have already re-opened passenger numbers have been reported in excess of expectations.
The lack of re-openings in England is despite a 2009 report by the Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC), citing a business case for re-opening about 20 railways.
The recent Government Spending Review and tough economic climate gives ever more impetus for value for money in transport projects, and the potential to provide this value for money by effectively 'reversing Beeching' should be seriously considered, says Dr Stubbs.
Consequently, Dr Stubbs adds: "Particularly in view of their potential to benefit all travellers, policies to re-open railways, along with other rail improvements, should have much more priority in Britain's national transportation planning in the coming years, be they ones of economic austerity or growth."
For more information contact Deputy Head of Corporate Relations Simon Redfern on 01332 591942 or 07748 920038, or email
s.redfern@derby.ac.uk.
