16/08/11 – Alliance Rail Press Release
ALLIANCE RAIL HOLDINGS ANNOUNCES FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF ITS WEST COAST MAIN LINE (WCML) SERVICE PROPOSAL
Alliance Rail Holdings (Alliance) has prepared a revised application for its proposed WCML services to be submitted to the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR). Alliance is seeking to introduce a ‘Network’ that:
- Operates over 60 trains every day
- Uses new rolling stock
- Will create almost 400 new jobs
- Will deliver over £3.5 billion of wider economic benefits to the areas it will serve
Industry consultation is currently being undertaken, and a copy of the outline Consultation Information Document is available using the following link:
WCML Track Access Rights Consultation Document
Network Rail and Alliance have been working very closely on the identification of a significant number of train paths that could be utilised to introduce the new services with around 50% of the paths agreed at this stage. This will see a supported (Section 18) application made to the ORR for the introduction of the West Yorkshire services (Bradford and Leeds to London Euston).
The recent McNulty Report – Realising the Potential of GB Rail – has highlighted many areas in which the industry can work better together, and in identifying this available capacity the parties have very much addressed the challenge of making better use of the exisiting capacity – “There needs to be less focus on capital and infrastructure solutions. Instead there needs to be a renewed focus on making better use of existing capacity, ensuring that a full range of solutions is considered at an early stage.” (Realising the Potential of GB Rail)
Further paths are still under evaluation by Network Rail and Alliance for the Blackpool and Cumbrian Coast services, and these, along with a number of weekend and further paths (for the West Yorkshire services) will be submitted under a Section 17 Application (unless agreed beforehand).
Ian Yeowart, Managing Director of Alliance said – “ Alliance has worked very hard and dilligently with colleagues at Network Rail in identifying capacity for these services. Network Rail and its planners have given an excellent response to this significant challenge and along with the outstanding input from our own people, this has been a true team effort.”
If you would like more information about this subject visit the website at: www.alliancerail.co.uk or to schedule an interview, please call:
Neil Yeowart at 01904 628904 or email ny@alliancerail.co.uk or:
Chris Brandon at 01904 628904 or email cb@alliancerail.co.uk
