What will the railways look like under the next government?

[HSTEd]

Flask work isn't diminishing any time soon I suspect.

It's not my field at all but from what I understand the flask work was fuel rods and highly contaminated components.

Essentially all flask work will be extinct before 2030.

Sizewell B doesn't move spent fuel and pretty much the entire AGR fleet (that isn't already gone) will be shut down and defueled before 2030.
Hinkley Point C will be storing fuel and other high and intermediate level wastes on-site at least until the plant is shut down.
There will only be a handful of lorryloads of low level waste going to Drigg each year.

They also move the containers that contain everything including the protective overalls used by staff cleaning up and this is railed, I immagine if it could be sent by road it would be.

A lot of it already is sent by road, indeed even spent fuel has been moved by road - since Wylfa, Hinkley Point, Dounreay et al do not have a rail connection the material from there has to be transhipped to a rail loading point.
Once volumes collapse there will be little point maintaining the rail infrastructure.

 

[LUYMun]

I would imagine a Labour Government would be willing to restore funding to TfL for certain projects like the Deep Level Tube Upgrade, new Trams and the Thamesmead DLR extension or at least let them borrow more money.

Only because the Government and Mayor of London share the same political affiliation. Perhaps if a new Mayor of London is elected under a different political party next year, alongside a Labour central government, then the cries for more funding could only resume.

 

[eldomtom2]

Perhaps if a new Mayor of London is elected under a different political party next year

How likely is that though?

 

[LUYMun]

How likely is that though?

Knowing how much flak the current mayor is getting for his move on ULEZ expansion, some Londoners might be considering other options...

 

[43066]

Only because the Government and Mayor of London share the same political affiliation. Perhaps if a new Mayor of London is elected under a different political party next year, alongside a Labour central government, then the cries for more funding could only resume.

I’m not quite sure what point is being made here.
It’s hard to imagine a Mayor of London of any political hue opposing higher increases in spending on transport in London (see Johnson’s garden bridge, the Emirates cable car etc. - they love vanity projects).

It’s also hard to imagine a future mayor of London being anything other than Labour.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 19 Jun 2023 ==

Knowing how much flak the current mayor is getting for his move on ULEZ expansion, some Londoners might be considering other options...

The complaining is coming from the largely Tory leafy outer boroughs (Bromley, for example). It isn’t coming from the parts of inner London which tend to vote for Khan, where the ULEZ is already in place!

 

[Mikey C]

The complaining is coming from the largely Tory leafy outer boroughs (Bromley, for example). It isn’t coming from the parts of inner London which tend to vote for Khan, where the ULEZ is already in place!

And from the home countries just outside London, who won't be voting...

 

[tomuk]

They do have access to the borrowing markets though, which is how electrification is paid for (not from taxes). If they wanted to a reasonable programme of electrification could easily be paid for without the markets batting an eyelid. However that then leaves them open to political attacks which don't have to worry about accuracy and comprehensive understanding of economic theory, so you are right that it will come down to their priorities.

No it isn't. There are no specfic government bonds for electrfication. It just comes out of the same pot that is filled up by taxes and if the pot still isn't full enough by government bonds.

 

[zwk500]

No it isn't. There are no specfic government bonds for electrfication. It just comes out of the same pot that is filled up by taxes and if the pot still isn't full enough by government bonds.

Given taxes don't cover the government's day-to-day running costs, any capital investment is for all practical purposes paid for by borrowing or issuing bonds. But yes it's a bit like how your electricity doesn't come from specifically a wind turbine or a Nuclear power plant, you just get the electrons in the wires.

 

[43066]

And from the home countries just outside London, who won't be voting...

Indeed.

I’m no fan of Khan (and, while I support the inner London ULEZ, I’m more agnostic on the benefits of extending it much further out), but I can’t say I view the judicial review of the ULEZ expansion as a good use of public money. It’s just yet more toxic and divisive Mayor-versus-the-Tories political posturing (in this case councils rather than central government), with the public footing the bill.

 

[Thirteen]

I’m not quite sure what point is being made here.
It’s hard to imagine a Mayor of London of any political hue opposing higher increases in spending on transport in London (see Johnson’s garden bridge, the Emirates cable car etc. - they love vanity projects).

It’s also hard to imagine a future mayor of London being anything other than Labour.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 19 Jun 2023 ==



The complaining is coming from the largely Tory leafy outer boroughs (Bromley, for example). It isn’t coming from the parts of inner London which tend to vote for Khan, where the ULEZ is already in place!

It probably helps that the Mayoral candidates from the Tories are frankly no hopers. Most of the promises are turn off ULEZ cameras which isn't going to sway voters.

Even if the next Mayor is non Labour, a Labour Government isn't likely to defund London given that it's a mostly Labour city.

 

[Snow1964]

Yesterday's (28 June) House of Lords debate on what is happening with Great British Railways and few other projects

(quite long transcript from many noble members so not going to attempt at quoting it)

Great British Railways - Question

– in the House of Lords at 3:17 pm 28 June 2023

www.theyworkforyou.com

But does appear there is a new RNEP (rail network enhancements pipeline) due to be published soon