Green light for over 50 road and rail upgrades

[AndrewE]

Mod Note: For discussion about the Midlands Rail Hub please see here, for discussion about Portishead please see here.

Apart from a reference in the Portishead thread I can't see this mentioned yet, it probably needs this header thread and subsidiary ones...
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/...upporting-over-39000-new-homes-and-42000-jobs is a press release, as yet I can't see the document itself.
Quite a few big, little road schemes, a "Midlands Rail Hub" is mentioned in the rail paragraph

The government is also announcing key rail projects across the country, including reinstating a passenger rail line between Bristol city centre and Portishead, which last ran over 60 years ago, delivering 3 brand new train stations, bringing thousands more people closer to a railway and funding a Midlands Rail Hub, creating brand new rail links for more than 50 locations.

but I don't know what that means! It says lower down

In addition, the government is investing a further £27 million to reinstate passenger rail services between Portishead and Bristol city centre. The new hourly services will connect an additional 50,000 people to the rail network and support a significant new housing development.

Two new stations, Wellington and Cullompton, have been given the green light in the south-west of England, unlocking significant new housing developments and providing more chances for people to access Exeter to visit loved ones and benefit from increased leisure, education and employment opportunities. Similarly, a new station at Haxby will now be delivered, bringing an additional 20,000 people within 3 kilometres of the railway, providing easy access to the regional centres of York and Leeds.

The Midlands is also set to see a huge improvement to its rail services. The new Midlands Rail Hub will be the region’s biggest and most ambitious rail improvement scheme to date. Significant government funding will mean huge numbers of additional trains and extra seats can be added to the rail network in and out of Birmingham every single day. This will support new homes and create greener growth across the Midlands while providing faster, more frequent and brand new rail links for more than 50 locations and creating almost 13,000 construction jobs.

Investment will also benefit existing rail users. The East Coast Main Line, which runs the length of the country, is already benefiting from an increase to capacity and frequency and will also receive new, upgraded digital signalling, boosting capability and resilience of the line, and reducing delays by one third. This rollout will support new digital skills in the rail sector and the creation of 4,800 new roles across the supply chain.

so I guess some people here will know what lies behind the summaries.

 

[duffield]

Still doesn't solve "The MML mystery".

NR appear to be ploughing ahead with further electrification by pegging out mast locations, removing lineside vegetation and most significantly performing bridge works and track lowering.

Meanwhile there has been no confirmation of further funding from the government beyond the current limit of electrification, and the MML gets no mentions at all in any infrastructure announcement.

This announcement leaves us none the wiser.

So we wait and scratch our heads.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Some of the money will go to Wales, notably the Padeswood project and increases in train frequency in North Wales.

Transformation of Wrexham to Liverpool line to begin | GOV.WALES

Work to transform the Wrexham to Liverpool line has been given the green light, with upgrades on the line at Padeswood confirmed as the first major step to realise more rail services between the two cities.

www.gov.wales

Delivering the upgrade at Padeswood will bring real economic benefits, helping the cement works and improving connectivity between Wrexham and Liverpool, increasing services to two trains per hour.
“It was fantastic to hear the UK Government’s commitment to this project, which campaigners have pushed for over many decades. Two governments, working in partnership, will deliver this key part of the Network North Wales.
Network North Wales is about delivering an integrated, high-frequency public transport network, connecting people to jobs, opportunity, community and a better quality of life. While Padeswood is predicted to be delivered in the next three years, more immediate changes include 50 per cent more trains on the North Wales mainline, more trains between Chester and Wrexham and the start of the roll out of Pay as You Go delivering better transport in the region.

The Padeswood upgrade, which unlocks capacity on the Wrexham-Bidston line, looks like a 3-year project.
Increases in services on the North Wales main line should come sooner, once foot crossings are upgraded, and includes extension of the Liverpool-Chester service into Wales (Llandudno/Wrexham).

 

[MarlowDonkey]

so I guess some people here will know what lies behind the summaries.

Wellington and Cullompton were intermediate stations on the line from Taunton to Exeter closed in the Beeching era. There's been a proposal to reinstate them for some time as part of a general improvement of local services in the Exeter area. The term Devon Metro is sometimes used.

 

[AndrewE]

Still doesn't solve "The MML mystery".

NR appear to be ploughing ahead with further electrification by pegging out mast locations, removing lineside vegetation and most significantly performing bridge works and track lowering.
Meanwhile there has been no confirmation of further funding from the government beyond the current limit of electrification, and the MML gets no mentions at all in any infrastructure announcement.

This announcement leaves us none the wiser. So we wait and scratch our heads.

Ssshhhhhh! Maybe it is going on under the radar, disguised within a maintainance budget!

 

[ainsworth74]

Just a quick note that the Midland Rail Hub has it's own thread which can be found here.

 

[JKF]

Curious what ‘new housing development’ the Portishead line is supposed to be supporting, unless they mean all the stuff that went up around the docks about 15-20 years ago? (Which also severed the line and prevented a new station actually in the town!). I suspect they’re conflating it with the proposed Brabazon station on the reopened Henbury branch which will support a huge development on the old Filton airfield, that’s had a few mentions recently.

(There is also some new housing going up in Ashton, but funding for that station hasn’t been agreed yet I believe, and will come later)

 

[The exile]

Curious what ‘new housing development’ the Portishead line is supposed to be supporting, unless they mean all the stuff that went up around the docks about 15-20 years ago? (Which also severed the line and prevented a new station actually in the town!). I suspect they’re conflating it with the proposed Brabazon station on the reopened Henbury branch which will support a huge development on the old Filton airfield, that’s had a few mentions recently.

Note the subtle difference in wording when compared with Wellington & Cullompton. There it will “unlock” new housing (implying the housing isn’t there yet); at Portishead it will “support” it (ie “we’ve built a whole load of new houses and realise we’ve created gridlock).

 

[DarloRich]

Great to see the A66 covered by this announcement. Long overdue.

 

[brad465]

Anyone know what the service provision plans for Wellington and Cullompton will be? I expect the Exeter-Cardiff Central trains will provide the backbone 1tph service, but could any extras call there, particularly in the peaks? Also, would trains that call at these stations also serve Tiverton Parkway or skip it? Calling at all three could block the line if not well pathed, and may not be 100% necessary given Cullompton and Tiverton Pkwy are not too far apart, especially if the former draws in some of the passengers who already use the latter.

 

[fgwrich]

Still doesn't solve "The MML mystery".

NR appear to be ploughing ahead with further electrification by pegging out mast locations, removing lineside vegetation and most significantly performing bridge works and track lowering.

Meanwhile there has been no confirmation of further funding from the government beyond the current limit of electrification, and the MML gets no mentions at all in any infrastructure announcement.

This announcement leaves us none the wiser.

So we wait and scratch our heads.

Seems to be “Paused” according to the DfT. Sigh.

Green light for over 50 road and rail upgrades supporting over 39,000 new homes and 42,000 jobs

Commuters and businesses to benefit from quicker journeys as more than 50 road and rail upgrades are agreed.

www.gov.uk

Midland Mainline Electrification Phase 3 (RNEP)

The next phase of electrification of the Midland Main Line has been paused. Given the exisiting trains in use on this stretch of railway and the costs and time needed to electrify the route we are focusing our investment on other schemes over the SR period. We will continue to keep the potential for full electrification of the route under review as part of our plans to decarbonise our railways and as funding becomes available in future.

 

[Snow1964]

The full list of road and rail schemes now published

Green light for over 50 road and rail upgrades supporting over 39,000 new homes and 42,000 jobs

Commuters and businesses to benefit from quicker journeys as more than 50 road and rail upgrades are agreed.

www.gov.uk

Anyone know what the service provision plans for Wellington and Cullompton will be? I expect the Exeter-Cardiff Central trains will provide the backbone 1tph service, but could any extras call there, particularly in the peaks? Also, would trains that call at these stations also serve Tiverton Parkway or skip it? Calling at all three could block the line if not well pathed, and may not be 100% necessary given Cullompton and Tiverton Pkwy are not too far apart, especially if the former draws in some of the passengers who already use the latter.

For Wellington it says

Building a new station at Wellington, that will provide new connections to regional centres, supporting economic growth and planned housing in the area. This supports significant expansion plans for the town and the new station and services will be critical to allowing local people to access jobs at major employment centres such as Exeter.

For Cullompton it says

Building a new station at Cullompton, that will provide new connections to regional centres, supporting economic growth and planned housing in the area. This supports significant expansion plans for the town and the new station and services will be critical to allowing local people to access jobs at major employment centres such as Exeter.

So looks like both will have services to Exeter (and of course the major employment centres in Exeter area are nearer Central and Marsh Barton stations), so anyone's guess what services will be provided.

 

[ac6000cw]

I notice there is no mention of the Ely Area Capacity Enhancement (EACE) project on the list, so do we assume that's been kicked into the long grass?

 

[MrJeeves]

I do enjoy that Wivelsfield is claimed to get a "feasibility study" for accessibility improvements, whilst the access for all contruction plans and drawings were already created by early 2024...

How many more times can Access for All be reannounced?

 

[SamYeager]

Interesting to see the cut and paste job for both Wellington & Cullompton. Surprised they didn't mention Taunton as well as Exeter for Wellington.

 

[MPW]

The optimist in me hopes there will be more funding made available soon after the government pipeline is published. No point taxpayers funding a project now if there's potential for private investment in the not too distant future (eg through development).

The realistic in me reminds the optimist how many times we've been told recently that money is tight and to reign in expectations.

 

[The exile]

Presumably this funding is separate from the awards to the mayoral authorities announced a few weeks ago? Assuming it is as most rail projects aren’t really “combined authority” types - Portishead is hopefully then in addition to the money for WECA transport.

 

[mailbyrail]

Did anyone spot the justification on the HMG listing for the Chesterfield-Staveley road works!!

Chesterfield Staveley Regeneration Route	6km single-carriageway with parallel provision for non-motorised users, connecting Chesterfield to allocated regeneration sites and to proposed HS2 Infrastructure Maintenance Depot at Staveley.

 

[Mollman]

Seems to be “Paused” according to the DfT. Sigh.

Green light for over 50 road and rail upgrades supporting over 39,000 new homes and 42,000 jobs

Commuters and businesses to benefit from quicker journeys as more than 50 road and rail upgrades are agreed.

www.gov.uk

Operator orders bi-modes due to slow and uncertain rollout of electrification. Government 'pauses' electrification because operator has ordered bi-modes. We just need bionic duckweed to make an appearance!

 

[OneOfThe48]

I do enjoy that Wivelsfield is claimed to get a "feasibility study" for accessibility improvements, whilst the access for all contruction plans and drawings were already created by early 2024...

How many more times can Access for All be reannounced?

As many times as is necessary!

See also the announcement of South Croydon in the 2020 budget and then again in 2024 as a ‘feasibility study’ station

 

[lachlan]

Did anyone spot the justification on the HMG listing for the Chesterfield-Staveley road works!!

Chesterfield Staveley Regeneration Route	6km single-carriageway with parallel provision for non-motorised users, connecting Chesterfield to allocated regeneration sites and to proposed HS2 Infrastructure Maintenance Depot at Staveley.

Although it's good they are providing a cycle track there's already a route along the river which will no doubt be much less pleasant once a bypass is built near it.

I wonder if this was originally part of the HS2 project?

 

[Class 170101]

Still doesn't solve "The MML mystery".

NR appear to be ploughing ahead with further electrification by pegging out mast locations, removing lineside vegetation and most significantly performing bridge works and track lowering.

Meanwhile there has been no confirmation of further funding from the government beyond the current limit of electrification, and the MML gets no mentions at all in any infrastructure announcement.

This announcement leaves us none the wiser.

So we wait and scratch our heads.

Look East says it covers the wiring of the section south of Leicester (South Jn) only towards Kettering

I notice there is no mention of the Ely Area Capacity Enhancement (EACE) project on the list, so do we assume that's been kicked into the long grass?

Look East says that has been paused again.

Most of the funding has been allocated to roads by the look of it. This is disappointing as tolls on schemes such as Lower Thames Crossing could pay for some of the road schemes.

 

[Adrian1980uk]

I notice there is no mention of the Ely Area Capacity Enhancement (EACE) project on the list, so do we assume that's been kicked into the long grass?

Feels to me this has all hallmarks of another I turn that will cost more as they can't descope existing announced projects, I feel this and the mml electrification pause will become uncomfortable for the government in the next few years as rail traffic grows.

 

[bluenoxid]

Do any of the road schemes assist with reducing traffic over/closing level crossings and under rail bridges with height restrictions?

I note the Middlewich project. Does that impact the proposed rail scheme?

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

I notice there is no mention of the Ely Area Capacity Enhancement (EACE) project on the list, so do we assume that's been kicked into the long grass?

Well given Felixstowe has shed of load of traffic to London Gateway with those extra trains running via London that driver has disappeared for the time being.

 

[ac6000cw]

Well given Felixstowe has shed of load of traffic to London Gateway with those extra trains running via London

One of those transferred trains is still running via Ely to get to London - https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:R00856/2025-07-08/detailed

But given how quiet the project had gone (no updates on the NR web page since 2022), I'm not at all surprised it's 'paused'.

 

[thejuggler]

Great to see the A66 covered by this announcement. Long overdue.

I hope it includes new interchanges with slip roads rather than roundabouts at Penrith and Scotch Corner, as that's where the main hold ups are.

 

[swt_passenger]

I hope it includes new interchanges with slip roads rather than roundabouts at Penrith and Scotch Corner, as that's where the main hold ups are.

There’s nothing in any of the scheme consultation stuff about the M6 and A1(M) interchanges, it’s all about how to dual 8 various separate single carriageway sections, however there seems to be major changes at the A6 junction to build an underpass.

 

[Western Lord]

Anyone know what the service provision plans for Wellington and Cullompton will be? I expect the Exeter-Cardiff Central trains will provide the backbone 1tph service, but could any extras call there, particularly in the peaks? Also, would trains that call at these stations also serve Tiverton Parkway or skip it? Calling at all three could block the line if not well pathed, and may not be 100% necessary given Cullompton and Tiverton Pkwy are not too far apart, especially if the former draws in some of the passengers who already use the latter.

As ever, one person's new station is another person's extended journey time.

 

[Sealink]

I do enjoy that Wivelsfield is claimed to get a "feasibility study" for accessibility improvements, whilst the access for all contruction plans and drawings were already created by early 2024...

How many more times can Access for All be reannounced?

Same announcement for Dorchester South.

It took ten years for Dorchester West to become accessible from the first announcement so I am not holding out much hope for a quick resultm.

Dorchester West has a train in each direction roughly every two hours.
Axminster (fully accessible) has an hourly service.

Dorchester South. Two trains an hour in each direction.... still waiting.