Time is running out for East Coast Main Line rail upgrades

Apr 29 2009 by Adrian Pearson, The Journal

RAIL bosses may only have five years to plan for a doubling in train passenger numbers as public spending cuts loom.

Over the next 30 years passenger numbers on the East Coast Main Line will rise by more than 100%, meaning more passengers than ever will be forced to stand unless improvements are made.

Network Rail is convinced an upturn in the economy will lead to thousands more customers using the Newcastle to London route.

Rail bosses only have firm Government spending promises for the next five years. After 2014 they will have to approach a cash-strapped Government and ask for more money.

Before then they plan to spend millions of pounds improving the East Coast Main Line throughout the region and even more on the route throughout the country.

In total £557m will be spent on the track, including longer platforms to prepare for extra train carriages.

But even this investment will do little to impact on the 30-year growth projections. Rail experts insist that longer and more frequent trains must come hand in hand with new high speed rail routes.

Passenger group Railfuture last night said the growth figures meant Network Rail had little option but to firmly support new railway infrastructure.

Regional spokesman Tony Walker said: “If the forecasts is anything like right then I would imagine a high speed line is a certainty.

“The present East Coast Main Line could not cope with double the number of traffic, no matter how much is spent on it. A rise in passengers like this would effect services, that is the reality.