20 November 2019
Press Release
English
Regional Transport Association (ERTA) calls for a reappraisal of reopening the
Brackmills Branch
The recent announcement of a ‘525 home
development’ adjacent to the Brackmills and Great Houghton locations should act
as a catalyst to a reconsideration of opening the Brackmills Railway (the stub
of the former Northampton-Bedford railway) and should be protected and studied
further.
Our concerns are that strapped for cash
councils avoid the rail link issue saying “no business case means no need to
protect the route” but given that the local roads are at capacity and
congestion is a major issue, without improved radial rail links restored, all
new development will go on local roads compounding the situation.
Our call is for the councils and other
entrepreneur organisations to club together, invest in a study and look at what
the re-railing the line could offer. In our view even as a local shuttle from a
large car park near Brackmills/Great Houghton to Northampton Castle Station,
the line could offer out of town Park and Ride relief as well as serving the
new University Waterside Campus and South Northampton areas including the
popular Delapre Abbey.
Local Councils should also be looking at the
East-West Consortiums bid for an Oxford-Bedford-Cambridge rail link and how
rebuilding a new rail link to Bedford would link Northampton to it and
Cambridge, but also Luton Airport. These audiences could well come to
Northampton informing renewed footfall and spend minus the traffic and give
people more options.
Richard Pill, ERTA Media Spokesperson said
“We need to keep options open and not be blinkered. There is a need to protect
the railway route and realignment spaces at places like Olney and in the
Northampton urban cordon. We are against further development unless it is
linked to reviving a rail link as the congestion is bad for air quality, public
health and needs a better vision for the 21st century.”
End of Press Release
Further comment: Mr Richard Pill 01234 330090
/ richard.erta@gmail.com
https://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/news/politics/525-home-development-near-brackmills-approved-by-northampton-borough-council-1-9148669
https://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/news/people/rebuild-brackmill-s-derelict-train-line-into-northampton-s-own-park-and-ride-tram-service-says-transport-group-1-9158115
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