R A I LT R AC K - The Railways Archive

developing
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6.1
There is a core
commercial network
of long-distance
passenger services for
which growth can be
accommodated through
investment that has a
commercial return
6.1 Passenger markets
The passenger market can be categorised broadly into:
• Long distance services
• Urban services
• Rural services
• Access to airports and ports.
Long distance services
There is a core commercial network of long-distance
passenger services for which growth can be accommodated
through investment that has a commercial return.This is
supported by our customers' own plans to meet growing
demand.Our strategy is to work with our customers to
develop their businesses and to increase the number of
passengers travelling on their services.Our main contribution
is usually the investment necessary to reduce journey times
and to ensure that there is sufficient network capacity to
handle increased frequencies.In addition,the radical
timetable restructuring that is necessary is being promoted
through a new collabora t i ve approach involving all opera t o rs –
both passenger and freight – with the objective of the
highest possible level of network use.
Access to London
Public transport accounts for around 80% of central London
journeys to work and almost 50% of these use national rail
as the main mode of travel.Most independent forecasts
suggest that employment in central London will continue to
grow steadily, putting increasing strain on our network.On
most major corridors,the railway is already operating at,or
close to, maximum peak capacity and we are devoting
considerable energy to the development of enhancements
that will enable rail to cope with traffic increases well into
the next millennium.
These enhancements generally need to be developed in
partnership with public bodies,both because of the planning
issues involved and because the schemes are not
economically viable without taking account of the social
benefits they bring.
Urban network development – Scotland, Wales
and the English regions
The economic and social development of cities in Scotland,
Wales and the English regions provides one of the strongest
challenges to turn the concept of integrated transport into
reality. Choices exist both in the short and long term as to
how to optimise the economic benefits of integrating good
highway planning and commercial land-use developments,
particularly on the edge of existing conurbations,while
sustaining the viability and cohesiveness of the established
business,shopping,leisure and residential core of inner and
central city areas.For the same reasons as in London,
partnership with public bodies is essential.Planning
authorities have recognised that the core attributes for public
transport in a good policy on integrated transport are likely
to include physical accessibility, clarity of,and access to,
information and ticketing,and safety and comfort in the
travel and waiting environments.
Rural services
Population densities in rural areas are relatively low, and high
levels of public sector support are normally required to fund
public transport services.The rail network often provides a
vital means of social accessibility for those in local
communities who either do not have access to a vehicle , or
prefer not to drive. Prospects for economically viable growth
strategies based on infrastructure enhancement are limited
but there are many initiatives where we work with local
public sector agencies to continue to promote the
development of train travel.
Access to airports and ports
Growing demand for international travel, for both business
and leisure, is putting pressure on surface access to airports
and ports. We are working with a number of operators of
such facilities to develop high-quality rail access.Examples
include:
London airports. Gatwick Airport has, for a number of
years,enjoyed high-quality rail links to central London.
Capacity improvements for additional services,including
those provided by long-distance operators,is being
considered for the Brighton Main Line.