Where we are at... and where we wish a sense of direction of travel was heading!

 re: https://eurotraffic.net/2026/06/26/do-new-roads-reduce-congestion-uk-dft-review/

Lower Thames Crossing costing £billions, BRTA says it should be a rail-based solution project and nationwide we need a programme of incremental local rail reopenings, select pieces of rail new-build and existing rail capacity enhancement schemes. 

That gives modal choice, lowers emissions, prevents ill-health, saves land, blight, congestion and delay and lowers costs aggregately including wear and tear maintenance costs too. 

Our country has been going the wrong way for decades and needs to turn back to local rail solutions more as part of the mix, reach and range transport, mobility choices, access and all-year-round sustainable footfall and spend regenerating people, places, the environment and opening more opportunities for all, not just the affluent.

In Northampton, a central location for England, bereft of radial rail links, the lesson is ever keenly felt of the bad legacy the closures informed subsequently. 

If we do not re-rail, more roads and upgrades with all their detrimental effects compound with development for a hellish scenario playing out. It is time for the government to stop, think and switch funding from roads to local rail solutions more.

There's jobs, associated industry supply benefits, innovation, research and enabling more in it if the government does support local rail solutions on and off the rails. 

So what is stopping it? Not new money per se, but switching in a national environmental crisis of perfect storm contextuals home and abroad. 

We are far too dependent on fossil fuels, overseas for oil and fertilisers and need to switch to renewables like tidal power, desalination plants for farm water, a national water grid and on-shore wind, on-roofs solar panelling and storage of energy - battery trains are a reality now! 

A programme of electrification could help provide easier renewal of existing rolling stock supply and cascade stock accordingly to strengthen existing trains (cut over crowding) and enable more. 

For example, if Bedford-Bletchley was electrified and double track throughout now, passenger and freight between Watford and Corby exploiting the end-to-end of the Bedford-Bletchley railway could enable a lot more by rail and quicker services with a reputation for capacity, not breakdowns (!) will commend more to try rail, than hit the roads.

Please email your MP in support of BRTA: https://members.parliament.uk/members/commons?sort=1 and join BRTA - every member makes a real difference: https://brtarail.com/become-a-member/

Please also diary our Leicester Public Meeting and share with others: 

Bruce Wakley of CRIL (link to campaigns page) A Guest Speaker at the BRTA Leicester Public Meeting:

“Connecting Burton to Leicester by rail – the Ivanhoe Line” 

2pm Saturday 3rd October 2026

Leicester Quaker Meeting House, 16 Queens Road, Leicester LE2 1WP 0116 270 5003

All Welcomer, Free Admission, Mini Book Stall available including old railway magazines!

Thank you.