31-08-23
Thanks to a Freedom of Information request we now have a copy of the 2020 study for reopening a new Northampton-Market Harborough rail link and basically, the benefits are numerous but shaving Northampton-Leicester timings from 90 minutes to somewhere about 35 minutes each way could revolutionise footfall and spend minus congestion equalling benefits more!
Indeed, with an Oxford-Milton Keynes and Northampton rail reopening from the south (takes on A43 and A421 corridors) and Northampton-Market Harborough takes on (A508 and M1), the wins for social, economic and environmental benefits are not wild dreams, but hard facts and opportunities which demand a more supportive response.
ERTA believes that on the one hand demand for endless studies presents a complicated maths and funding barrier, then if you are so lucky, there's no money to pay for the physical infrastructure. Yet roads are evaluated not by lay people but publicly paid professionals, there's gross inequality in favour of roads despite a climate emergency. How we tackle these issues, the we being tiers of governance and public coming together to put a commonsensical approach and greater levelling up to actually get 'spades in the ground' not endless report production, report trading, endless conferences, high paid salaries around organised discussions, whilst 'Rome burns', remains a key problem to address.
Tiers of governance, tiers of inequality but open opportunities in a context of cost-ratios and diminutives, means act now, you get savings, keep putting off or fearing costs whilst some councils are thread-bare, should not be a barrier for constructive collaboration and working at reopening local rail links for the benefits they offer for people and goods.
ERTA is not a talk-shop, we are action stations with every volunteer asked for reliability, everyone having a role and responsibility. We are not in the game of chuck a tenna and let us graft, rather we are as good as a growing and active membership informs. Want more in your area? Join, become an Area Rep and act, grow a team, recruit new members and together we are stronger. My role is delegatory and coordination as best one may. Thank you.
New ERTA Diagram:
Details of Public Meeting from 01-07-2023
ERTA Public Meeting: Northampton Public Meeting – the big one! Saturday 30th September at The Northampton Quakers, Quaker House, Wellington Street, Northampton NN1 3AS
‘‘Rail funding, and effective business cases” followed by Questions and Answers (Q&A). There will also be discussion for a Northampton-Market Harborough rail link as well as a general rail and transport discussion and a general mingle and sales stall (old magazines mainly). Please bring cash with you. Any enquiries please ring 01234 330090 or email richard.erta@gmail.com All welcome. A retiring collection will be available. Please invite others and help spread the word. Parking is limited. Update 16-06-2023
This caught my eye and bravo to our Patron Professor Andrew Williams for engaging in it.
re: https://exchange.ca-wn.org/learning-our-lines/
Details of our Northampton Public Meeting is:
Northampton Public Meeting – the big one! Saturday 30th September at The Northampton Quakers, Quaker House, Wellington Street, Northampton NN1 3AS https://www.quaker.org.uk/meetings/northampton 2pm-4pm (core time) with Guest Speaker (asked) and sales stall (old magazines, please bring cash with you). ERTA has an agenda for Northampton, we want a new-build Northampton-Bedford (linking with lines to London and Brighton as well as emergent East-West Rail to Cambridge and East Anglia) and a new-build Northampton-Market Harborough. These lines need studying, the formal case to be worked up and routes including new-build/deviations factored in designs. Cycle, walkway and nature corridors can go alongside trunk roads as per A27 Lewes: https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/23445960.a27-work-complete-cycle-path-built-east-lewes-scheme/ Too long we’ve thrown everything at former rail routes, whilst denying their re-use as a railway, but instead entertain unadulterated increases in road traffic, congestion, pollution, toll on public health and well-being, loss of habitat and so much more. If amenity is what NIMBY’s want, that can be done, but if they object to a railway whilst entertaining a status quo of roads like A508, M1, A14, A428 and more, then we must challenge whether that is a truly ‘green’ mentality or head-in-the-sand blinkeredness?
14-03-2023 Coverage: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-64936990.amp and https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/local-news/campaigners-call-reopen-old-railway-8246598
I attach our latest press release from last Saturday's meeting in Market Harborough where some 30 people filled a room to explore and discuss prospects for reopening a Northampton-Market Harborough rail link with greater choice and connectivity in prospect if such were to happen any time soon.
I stress that ERTA is about planting ideas. We are a modest sized voluntary association. We want professionals, MP's and Councils to pick up on the aspiration and work with us to court the funding for studies to make or break the case and find solutions to problems on the back of the benefits such a rail link may provide.
Please give ERTA your support. Join us in membership, offer to help and promote a worthy cause. Thank you.
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