DfT Rail Reopenings Fund - Taking it forward

This may also be of interest, for which we take some of the kudos: https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/65978/three-new-east-west-rail-arcs-explored-for-eeh-geography?fbclid=IwAR25-zneUddTmmuu7MJtAVIws43CuYpO5bOhyxZGqSb2aolrqcyqL6uIOz4

Good news for others, which ones should we be focusing on for moving towards bids for funding/read criterion. Solicit MP/Local Council support/let them lead the bid:

1. Great Central Calvert-Rugby-Narborough

2. March-Spalding

3. Northampton-Bedford

4. Guildford-Horsham-Shoreham

5. Gloucester-Ross-Hereford

These are our top 5 I believe. Others elsewhere are covering other projects and can make their own bids. We can progress towards the bid and that gives us a focus, taking the public with us as we go. It is positive, so question is, can we arise to the challenge. No. 2 the MP is supportive, but councils aren't much. No. 1, Chris Heaton Harris MP Daventry is on the patch of GC as well as Minister of State. No. 5 is early days yet but a round at some point is to be envisaged. No. 3 - again when unlock happening and we start meeting, working with people-on-the-ground etc is the way to go as long as they stick with rail and don't go off on Guided Busway or similar. Northampton-Market Harborough another but theres a pecking order - others may play in reverse, fine, at least they can deal with accommodating the preservation line. 

Hope helpful. Hope we can discuss at some point. This is 2020-2021 main focus and things like meetings, forums, jaunts and Westminster Team can focus on these things. What we need is more active people.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/re-opening-beeching-era-lines-and-stations/re-opening-beeching-era-lines-and-stations
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/re-opening-beeching-era-lines-and-stations/re-opening-beeching-era-lines-and-stations#successful-bids-for-the-first-round-of-the-ideas-fund
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000jfpz