https://brtarail.com/dunstable/
The British Regional Transport Association (BRTA) calls for support for re-railing #Dunstable! Much is against it on all sides and ways, but rail delivers footfall, spend and regeneration in its wake which few other options do. Dunstable is caught in a catch 22 whereby Central Bedfordshire Council is too spread out and under resourced to strum up such a vision, pluralism melts when singularity and focus demands dedicated commitment!
In a nut shell, it is a clear choice #Luton (separate Unitary Council) and Dunstable which they need to determine and decide on principally "Busway versus Railway" in modal choices, futures and directions. Busways are cheaper, but do not do bulk, rarely inform modal shift from cars to rubber wheeled buses and concrete renewal is an on-going cost, do bus revenues justify it? That leave Dunstable out on a limb from the rail network and 5 miles to the nearest rail station, is a set back to well-being in numerous ways to get out and go anywhere by rail beyond the mere locked-in 'locals' which buses only agendas inform sadly majoritively?
BRTA would welcome people to join, offer reliable voluntary services and help over a 20 year period nurture policy and practises which move Luton and Dunstable towards a shared rail link re-conversion and benefits shared. It needs a study on confirming the case, why and how and scoping for taking it forward to link Milton Keynes with Luton Parkway Railway Station. Integrated to Thameslink, it offers a bolt-hole off the Midland Main Line (MML) enabling more trains to serve and go through Luton Railway Stations.
Existing stone freight sidings at Luton could be relocated to a new freight servicing depot adjacent to the main line at Sundon, enabling a new 5 track, new under-arch at Hitchin Road Bridge and a duck-under to plough through existing Luton Interchange with a railway - bus shared land space with a new Luton Railway Booking Hall.
BRTA makes suggestions, plants ideas but a study can work up practicals and leaders must decide if the re-railing is a sense of direction our leaders at all levels wish to go over a 20 year plan, relocate, policy and development strategy? National Government has a role too and people can email their local MP's to call for support, research and working up tangible options to give the public a say, a choice and invest for the best outcomes. Contrast this to the staus quo languishing of the two town centres.
Likewise, with growth approved, £billions pour into the profits of London Luton Airport and associates, a portion of that money should be re-directed to invest in re-railing a new Luton-Dunstable-Milton Keynes rail link and an eastward extension via the #Knebworth area to link from the south to #Stevenage and enabling onwards to #Cambridge for excample. Not either Oxford-Bedford-Cambridge versus Milton Keynes-Dunstable-Luton and beyond, we need both, serving different markets, different populations, complementing each other and enabling more by rail, lowering congestion, pollution, ill-health and bringing tangible benefits on and off the rails.
Our diagrams are illustrative of a vision, they need working up to a specification; but our faith and what we hold out, is if taken up and progressed, everyone will benefit from local to regional and integrated to the national too! ceo@brtarail.com
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