Wednesday, 26 February 2025

Bedford to Northampton (B2N) new creation rail link for greater sustainability and connectivity!

Update at 03-03-2025: 

https://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/news/politics/construction-start-date-revealed-for-controversial-217-property-housing-estate-in-busy-built-up-part-of-northampton-5012065

Ransome Road development as is some others to the rail idea if it does not leave adequate corridor land and with space for:

1. 25KV OHLE Electrification for Thameslinks/other link-up modern traction and gantys.

2. adequate space for perimeter fencing and a cycle way alongside with lighting

3. Consideration of the congested London Road, Northampton, air pollution and whether this development is sustainable or just quotient infill housing for its own sake without wider contextual considerations superimposed by people located in greener rural areas on urban situations?

If you support our rail aspiration, please write to you local MP - find them on https://members.parliament.uk/members/commons

The local MP for Northampton South is Mike Reader MP, but he can only entertain emails for his own constituents, but if other MP's can contact him and work towards accommodatiung the railway verifiedly, that bodes better. If the railway is rebuilt, a station halt serving both Delpare Abbey, Northampton South and the Waterside Northampton University Campus can be implemented and benefits serivative thereof. New housing tend sto be flimsy and needs barriers and space from close proximity to a railway and sowe do question whether Ransome Road development is the best location given these other agendas or a blocking of the rail idea via a fig leaf of 'everyone needs homes'? Let us have your own feedback via richard.brta@gmail.com and join our loop for updates and other newes related to reopening railways.

Our excellent webmaster, Andy Purves has spruced up and issued a new campaigns page about the idea of reopening the Bedford-Northampton Rail Link anew, not the old route per se, as is blocked at Olney. However, support would be welcome at a strategic council, agency and upwards level as well as public interest in the idea. Please see the page: 

https://brtarail.com/b2n/

I am mindful Bedford Borough wrote to West Northants Council asking the corridor into Northampton from Bedford is retained, as that is a key aspect as per the Bromham Bedford end, can a new route north of Bromham for a railway be done and a flyover to link with the 2 slow lines for access into Bedford Midland Station for Thameslink integration and also East-West Rail?
I am available for feedback, discussion and welcome people to join, offer to assist and eventually grow a team.
Studies are needed given the new situation with Olney blocked, we need a new 10-15 mile route arcing the Lavendon sort of area and where the A509/A428 meet, could be a better location for a Parkway Station?
10 years hence, given regional and indeed, nationwide development without proper infrastructure planning routes will be lost unless options are identified and retained as part of allocating development now.
BRTA stands ready to do its bit and welcomes any help, support, advocacy and champions for it to take it forward please of any level and tier of power.
The new rail link could
1. feed into and from local bus links from outlying areas
2. save wear and tear costs on pounded roads
3. enable more options for logistics and public transport end-to-end
4. make growth sustainable, saving land, cutting emissions and freeing up urban parking capacity.
5. create capacity for more by rail off the Midland Main Line, West Coast Main Line and arc the Rugby-Luton gap, which is a significant gap for both freight by rail, public transport and connectivity.
These are just a few benefits taking an interest towards adoption by the government could ultimately deliver for the communities and 3 regions it would serve as part of a nationwide network of railway inter-connectivity.
What we wish for:
Join BRTA and feedback/enquiries welcome via richard.brta@gmail.com
Bedford Road, Northampton... a regular situation informing delays, waste, costs and pollution. What are local leaders willing to do to rectify it please?!




Friday, 14 February 2025

British Regional Transport Association (BRTA) calls for extension of the rail link to Stansted progress news Reuniting East and West Essex by Rail

Now this: 27-02-25

Would complement rail links between Stansted and Colchester/Braintree too?

https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2025/02/proposed-essex-kent-superlinks-to-scupper-unaffordable-lower-thames-crossing.html

Update 25-02-25: Reuniting East and West Essex by Rail

Minutes are now available of a Zoom meeting about #Stansted Airport expansion and an extension of the rail link eastwards to Braintree and Colchester respectively. Minutes of our Zoom call yesterday about the proposed expansion of Stansted Airport and a proposed extension of the existing rail link eastwards to link with Braintree and Colchester which would enable more use of rail for journeys to, from and beyond the airport like Cambridge-Chelmsford and Colchester to Harlow for example.

We would welcome your help to champion the rail link and on request I have a report study done by Railfuture East Anglia which I am happy to share showing the feasibility of such a uniting rail link, broadening the employment base and accessibility to wider audiences of ther airport and helping with jobs and other regenerational footfall and spend for example in town centres and reducing the chronic congestion, pollution and mayhem more roads upgrades inform which are also accident prone too.

We seek champions for the rail link proposal and help to upgrade the study, champion the rail link idea and get a round-table going to bring professionals, elected representatives and other support bodies together to champion it to the highest level and court government support like they recently gave to Heathrow Third Runway, which arguably overheats the South East and without more and better conventional rail links will be unsustainable - people, places and quality of life considerations for example.

The report, a recent letter from Stansted Airport and minutes from our Braintree Public Meeting via pdf are available from here richard.brta@gmail.com

I sincerely hope this may be of some interest, as if we do not get the rail link, the impact of airport growth will throw ever more pollution and congestion onto the A120 and land use demands for ever more parking as well. Join our loop via richard.brta@gmail.com Likewise copies of the Railfuture Report and a letter from Stansted Airport too. They are pdf's.

21-02-25 Update Zoom Meeting - all welcome:

Scroll down to Monday 24th February for Stansted Zoom Meeting. 
Any queries or to join our update loop send to richard.brta@gmail.com
Minutes of BRTA Zoom Meeting discussion of Stansted Airport Expansion and better rail links from Colchester and Braintree for more by rail and reduced traffic impacts for example.
Present: Ian Couzens (Railfuture East Anglia Chairman), Trevor Garrod (Chaired the Meeting from Lowestoft), Richard Pill (BRTA CEO), Simon Barber (BRTA), Dave Aldridge (Shortgate Parish Council, Wickford.
1. Apologies for absence: Jonathan Coghill (BRTA), David J. Start (BRTA).
2. Minutes of previous minutes and matters arising: There were no matters arising and the minutes were accepted.
3. Stansted Expansion and better rail links:
a.   The meeting want the railway extended eastwards to serve Braintree/Colchester and Chelmsford arcingly.
b.   A question was do we want more aircraft in and out of Stansted? Medium to long haul maybe, but short flights, the emphasis should be on more and better rail links, services, and connections. Pan-Europe travel by rail for example was flagged up and Eurostar is expanding services via the Channel Tunnel to/from wider European destinations.
c.    If we want more by rail, we need links like east of Stansted for wider audiences to and from the airport by rail, cutting congestion on the A120 and emissions.
d.   We considered the environmental benefits of the proposed rail extension and the population attending the airport commuting for work, shift hours and subsidiary industries informing a supply chain dependent on business to and from the airport. It is thought about 12, 000 people work in relation to the airport and presumed from a wide area. Better rail links would enable more of these people to attend by rail and enlarge the employment base and choice from a wider range including East Essex for example.
e.   The new rail link would reunite east and west Essex which is a fairly large and growing population county of England.
4. Consideration of their letter of response to the Braintree meeting:
a.   The letter was a welcome response, but it was expressed that we are not asking the airport to fully fund the new rail extension, but help and be instrumental in helping gather a coalition of support by lead agency and councils to take the project and give it a home and forward to appeal for government backing just as Rachel Reeves has done for Heathrow Third Runway for example. It is of regional and nationwide significance and impact.
b.   Richard Pill to email Mr Fieldhouse and would ass the pdf of Railfuture’s Study making the case for the airport rail link extension.  This basic study makes a case, but we need investors and support for a more detailed and fuller study to be worked up which may for example do routing, engineering, environmental considerations, and possible Parkway Station for Great Dunmow area for example.
c.    Ref R120 mirrors A120 corridor. The population is growing in volume, sprawl, and density, so land use is becoming a precious commodity and ensuring the railway remains do-able is why it needs a home with professionals, councils, agencies, and government to be done within maybe a 10-year timeframe?
5.   Next Steps:
d.   Richard to ask Mr Fieldhouse for any origin and destination data from customers and staffing supply and demand and what expansion would inform numerically.
e.   Richard to write/email councillors and ask for them to consider a key person’s conference to further consider these matters and a course of action for the railway and invite the author of the Railfuture Study to speak for example?
f.      Another meeting/conference could also be done by Railfuture/BRTA, location to be determined. BRTA happy to help marketing by email, but can’t resource such ourselves and any future meeting would be Zoom and/or a smaller public meeting at Braintree.
g.    Richard to contact Transport East about the matter.
h.   The Railfuture Consultants were Jonathan Roberts, based in London and these minutes would be sent and any future mapping on the way ahead is welcome to entertain.
i.      Richard to post out to those who attended Braintree who only gave postal addresses.
6. (see 5)
Who will do what including BRTA seeking someone to join and be the Essex Area Rep to recruit and build a team to coordinate.
7. Any other related business:
It was discussed about time-span from conception to delivery. Clearly given pace of development there is no room for long terming or complacency. We need coalition, support, champions, and leadership now. It was mentioned East West Rail (Oxford-Bedford-Cambridge) started as an amateur campaign and has taken 40 years with Oxford-Milton Keynes Passenger Trains running from August 2025 mooted.
8. Future Zoom/date of next meeting and any plugs.
No future formal da in touch and so another Zoom for interim progress later in the year seems logical. Meanwhile people can join our growing email loop via richard.brta@gamil.com
Meerti8ng started at 3pm and finished about 4pm Thanks to our webmaster Andy Purves for helping set up and manage the Zoom apparatus for the meeting.
Notes:
 Website: https://brtarail.com/events/
Copies of pdf letter via richard.brta@gmail.com
Enquiries via 01234 225068

Railfuture Report Consultancy: https://www.jrc.org.uk/

13 February 2025

Press Release

 

British Regional Transport Association (BRTA) calls for extension of the rail link to Stansted to arc across to reunite east and west Essex as one east-west rail link with Braintree and Colchester

 

BRTA convened a meeting on Saturday 8th February at Braintree to bring people together to discuss the matter that if Stansted is to expand, the public should rightly ask their MP’s, Councils and Government to demand contributions to extending the rail link eastwards to link with Braintree and Colchester including a new Parkway Station for Great Dunmow.

 

Benefits would include:

1.     Decluttering the A120 in a context of massive infill development. The road is accident prone and hazardous and needs the relief a proper rail link can offer.

2.     Reunite east and west Essex offering train travel between places like Cambridge and Chelmsford, Harlow to Colchester and all in between.

3.     The meeting also discussed re-connecting Maldon to the main line by rail, a new route would be needed, a study is called for.

 

Richard Pill said after the meeting “Essex deserves better joined-up rail connectivity and we call on councils and others to demand the rail link and routing for it be included in expansion plans for the airport. We aim to hold a Zoom Meeting on 24th February and all are invited, further details via richard.brta@gmail.com

 

End of Press Release

 

Further comment: Richard Pill, BRTA CEO 01234 225068




Sunday, 2 February 2025

BRTA Response to Rachel Reeve's Statement in Eynsham, Oxfordshire January 2025

Routes have not been shown in consultations since 2019 and ours never! So how can the public objectively have their say or choices? Latest news on Airports, Capacity and overheated SouthEast must lend to a reconsideration of these routes betweem Bedford and Tempsford and how physical links at Tempsford could enlarge rail's market share more for passenger and freight operations?

Government clearly has not thought through the application of its ideas and how much, having locked itself to not charge Income Tax to the better off, how funding will be done? Private or public, there's no such thing as a free lunch!

Our views are as follows:
1. Heathrow Third Runway, the place is already overcrowded, congested and blighted, would it not make sense if we must have such, to spread the load and consider rerouting East-West Rail to serve a 4th London Airport at Thurleigh and run the railway via St Neots and onwards to Cambridge? Moreover, Heathrow needs more and better rail links anyway like Heathrow Southern and the Reading arm. https://heathrowrail.com/
2. On East-West Rail, we do need a rail link if not 2 or 3 more. Our stance of routing has been ignored. We wanted east of Bedford via St John's (see attached) and new-build from the Willington area to approach the Tempsford plains from the south-west not north-west as the current Northern Route offers. It will serve no-one in North Bedfordshire with probably long tunnelling (like HS2) rather than a station! It is a sad irony, that when we launched a Bedford-Sandy extension of the Bedford-Bletchley rail link for East Coast Main Line (ECML) connectivity in 1987, councils objected saying no case, but would not fund a study and also would not entertain it because of 'blockages' which then was less-than 30 houses albeit more expensive houses than those in Poets. Now we have 60 houses to be knocked down and more and the case, as year after year studies rather than delivery was the name of the game (writing ordinary advocates off on cost grounds) and Bedford Borough Council and the former County Council opposed a bridge over the old railway route in 1993 despite other councils writing asking for support for the railway, so A421 Southern Bypass became another blockage to our route. Then from 2017 the 2019 Consultation put the Northern Route but not our route, so it biased the people and has repeated this pattern, yes people want an East-West Rail Link but they can only vote for what is presented to them, rather than the options in this study: https://www.bedford.gov.uk/files/bedford-ewr-station-choice-wider-impacts-final-11-01-24.pdf/download?inline
So we are where we are. If Northern Route goes pear shaped, then ours stands ready to be looked at and supported, but Office for Road and Rail needs tackling on special dispensation for a Level Crossing at Priory Park entrance and also a bridge over the railway at Cardington Road, if a Level Crossing is not suitable, although it was once there until 1982 ish.
Funny how objections to dualling A421/A428 Oxford-Bedford-Cambridge have been muffled compared to the railway throughout, where will all this road-based traffic go upon meeting the urban interfaces like Bedford and Cambridge which both share gridlocked roads at times?
Meanwhile we will continue to bang our drum for satellite stations for Bedford like Oakley, Sharnbrook, Kempston Retail and putting Ampthill back on the railway map.
Thank you for your interest.

Yours sincerely,


Richard Pill
BRTA CEO



Write to your MP about this as well, given government finds money and permits new roads, but not this and similar other rail links? How will modal shift back to rail happen, let alone the environmental needs for cleaner transport like rail offers, ever be done? https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/24897104.government-cant-afford-oxfordshire-rail-link-says-minister/
Write to your MP and challenge the government's stance: https://members.parliament.uk/members/commons


Saturday, 25 January 2025

Quainton-Leicester via Rugby debate - new-build and new-route needed

 Identifying a new rail route (background):

We at BRTA are given to believe that as Quainton Road-Verney is being touted but with a easterly curve for Aylesbury - Milton Keynes integrated with emergent East-West Rail (Oxford-Milton Keynes/Bedford) and the old Claydon GC-Bletchley curve is being abandoned for HS2, a westerly curve also to serve Verney (with development) and onwards new-build to Buckingham and deviation south of Brackley/east of HS2/urban development to a new A43 area Parkway Station, could, with buses, serve Silverstone orbits and Brackley before going on towards Woodford area, A425 Southam-Daventry trunk road/Parkway Station halfway between two expanding urban areas without a railway and onwards via Willoughby area, old GC into Rugby and onwards via new-build with maybe a loop line serving both Magna Park and Lutterworth and entering Leicester via Narborough area of some other route, but old Midland is severely built on, akin to old Varsity Line east of Willington). We ask people to buy Ordnance Survey Maps (new) and study these/take it to the forum covering Verney and Rugby and Leicester (x3). 
On Catesby Tunnel:
1. How much do they need it as a wind tunnel? Could they relocate/build another if rail demand is high?
2. bore a new tunnel adjacent to it
3. Maybe a cutting adjacent to the tunnel and use removed earth for embankment shoring up elsewhere as part of the new-build rail resource?
A study is needed. Local Parish Clerk dislikes the idea of the railway being rebuilt. But from our stance we see these things:
1. West Coast Main Line (WCML) and Midland Main Line (MML) are congested with demand for more trains and inadequate places for them to call at/London Terminal capacity issues.
2. HS2 may sort out more capacity by creaming off Birmingham-London audiences, but refuses to provide intermediate stations like to the expanding Brackley area as an example. That leaves a rail desert and throws new development - people and goods - to the roads, which are congested, main informants of air pollution (tyres and/or exhausts/both) and upgraded roads take more land, which is needed for other things/a scarce resource, seriously undervalued by development demand, creation of brownfield and less room for wildlife, recreation and local food production.
3. Given these dynamics (there's always more!); and given the mooted Quainton-Verney old route new-build for including Aylesbury into East-West Rail, we start with the new proposed by BRTA of a western curve into Verney and then onwards to the Buckingham area, Brackley/Silverstone area and onwards northwards GC old route more or less and/or new-build with realignments or whatever needs to be done, gives/takes.
4. Leicester is a problem. We need transport planners to step back and see the whole gamut which needs addressing principally:
a. Fuller finish of electrification into Leicester from Market Harborough/Wigston to Nottingham, Derby, Sheffield and Leeds for one-joined-up network but also
b. Full electrification of Felixstowe-Birmingham lines which also use tracks into and through Leicester.
c. More platforms capacity to receive and entertain more trains including reopened Leicester-Burton-upon-Trent line (Ivanhoe Line), Northampton-Market Harborough - Leicester (Gateway to/from the East Midlands and vice versa).
d. Restoration of the through twin tracks to enable freight to get through the station without delay, as freight by rail is a growth sector and good for getting vehicles off roads and decluttering main roads. If we care about the environment, these are essential to understand.
So, our rail link feeds more trains into Leicester, piecemeal is inadequate, it needs a holistic and cohesive plan, consultation and enable the gamult to be delivered giving more rail-based options and better public transport. 

Richard Pill
BRTA CEO

I would abandon any idea of re-opening the old Great Central route through Rugby.  There are two reasons for this: 
1.     The track bed to the North is now a public footpath, which ends at the canal.  From there, it is apparent just how far away is the ‘Birdcage Bridge’ (over the WCML).  The cost of rebuilding the viaduct alone would run to many tens of millions – Probably enough to kill the project on its own.
2.    The line South from Rugby Central runs straight through town.  It is a popular walking & cycling route and is backed onto by hundreds of houses.  Every time that re-opening is raised, this is where the howls of outrage come from.
The GC really needs to connect to the WCML.   Either by following the original route to the canal and then dropping down by an embankment, or, branching off around the Newton/Shawell area, possibly using the old Market Harborough track bed for final approach into Rugby.
In addition, I would not consider any bypass route to the East of Rugby.  A new build railway would undoubtedly cause problems with the land owners and cost many millions per mile.  Anyway, a campaign to re-open a closed railway line is much more sellable.
The idea that anyone would write-out a cheque for up to a billion Pounds to rebuild the GC in one go was always unlikely and with the current state of the public finances, frankly a pipedream.
If the GC is to live again, it needs to be done in stages.  The first priority is passenger services from Aylesbury to Calvert and the East-West line.  Second, push for re-opening Northwards to a parkway station near the A43.  Brackley is a growing town and I believe it would welcome a direct rail service into London.  This could be done at the same time as a campaign to re-open Leicester-Rugby.
As to practicalities, have you considered making common cause with other groups?  The GC is on the Campaign for Better Transport’s list of possible re-openings.
To get anywhere you need the support of local MPs, councillors, Chambers of Commerce, local media etc.  Start small, try to generate enough interest to have a feasibility study funded, to get the ball rolling.

Adrian Carter, BRTA Member

Diagrams of what is being focused on:



What you can do:

1. Join BRTA as a member: 

https://brtarail.com/become-a-member/

2. Write to your MP in support of what we're about: https://members.parliament.uk/members/commons

3. Help us get council, public, other strategic support and funding for studies, finding a constructive pro-rail solution.

4. Join our free email loop for updates: richard.brta@gmail.com


Friday, 24 January 2025

Rugby Forum News and Agenda:

 BRTA Rugby Forum – All Welcome

Saturday 25th January 2025
2pm lunch – 3-5pm business
Venue: Rupert Brooke, 8-10 Castle Street, Rugby, Warwickshire CV21 2TP
Venue Website: www.jdwetherspoon.com/pubs/the-rupert-brooke-rugby
Venue Phone: 01788-576759
Please let Simon Barber know in advance if you wish to come via email address: simon4barber@gmail.com
Phone (landline): 020-8940-4399
Phone (mobile): 07522-374740
Agenda:
1.    Appointment of someone to chair the meeting and someone to take notes
2.    Apologies for absence
3.    Introduction to who/what BRTA is/aspires to
4.    Rugby-Leicester via old GC route, old Midland route or new build. Accommodating both Lutterworth (growth town) and Magna Park (one of Europe’s largest industrial parks)
5.    BRTA’s goal of a brand- new corridoric railway for passenger and goods from a Rugby Central Parkway Station with disabled access to the East-West Railway (Oxford-Bletchley) and associated links to and from Leicester/East Midlands via Rugby, Willoughby, Southam/Daventry arc, Woodford Halse, Brackley/Silverstone orbits and maybe serving Buckingham – Verney with realignments/new-build like at Padbury. East and West curves for optimum feed. West gives Oxford, Reading, Swindon, Bath, Bristol, South West and South Wales links and vice versa – footfall and spend, more rail choices and environmental benefits. Alongside HS2, a conventional railway for passenger and freight capacity with local stations for connectivity. Switch £27 billion new roads funding to fund more rail capacity and links?
6.    Current Rugby Bus and Rail matters
7.    Recruitment for BRTA membership and offers to help with this project
8.    Email MP’s and councils/email local news outlets supporting studying, route protection and finding solutions to problems and cutting congestion/air pollution.
9.    Any Other Business
10.          Date, Time, Place, of next meeting (Summer or Autumn 2025) or interim Zoom – can agenda it.



Reader: 
Just a reminder that our Rugby Forum is on this Saturday 25th January 2025 and an agenda and diagram is attached. We need support to the principle of corridor new build of a railway able to take passenger and goods and inform more capacity between Bletchley, Northampton and Rugby. It needs a study to come up with routing options, feasibility, engineering and deviation possibilities. 
Buckingham, Brackley, Banbury, Daventry, Southam and Rugby, let alone grow areas of Magna Park and Lutterworth are growing areas and Leicester is a busy gateway to/from the East Midlands and East Anglia by rail.  Please help us and find a way forward beit Great Central Corridor or adjacent to (new-build) or old Midland Route North of Rugby (many blockages/deviations required) and getting into Leicester itself, given development and blockages.
Our other events are on our website: https://brtarail.com/events/ and other projects can be found on our Blogspot: https://brtarailvolunteer.blogspot.com/


Saturday, 18 January 2025

Have your say and give support to improvements around the South West Main Line out of Waterlo!

This report should be of interest to all associated with the South West Main Line out of Waterloo.


BRTA would welcome for the South West Line a review, audit and study with options for the following:
1. Reinstate the direct curves at Yeovil, in particular the one allowing Weymouth-Exeter direct running for example.
2. Reopen the Lyme Regis Branch enabling commuting off the main line for resort and wider dynamic socio-economic and environmental appeal.
3. Upgrade electrification, double-tracking and signalling and
4. Have longer trains/upgrade stations and platforms
5. Satellite stations around Salisbury need studying as well.
6. What scope for more freight and line-born freight in particular?
If you agree write to your MP in support of the report (email!): https://members.parliament.uk/members/commons
This line has been allowed to be a back-water and vibrancy and a new engagement is required.
I also remind folks that our Westbury Forum can also discuss this and wider issues, date, place and times via my colleague Simon Barber, but May onwards is most likely and listing will be here: https://brtarail.com/events/
BRTA membership is open to all and ideally we need local area reps to help forward our agendas locally and convene pub sort of forums to join and come forward please. Local activism and campaigns often make a difference, but can be thankless tasks for getting the proverbial 'ball' rolling!
I am sure Simon is willing to table forums elsewhere providing costs or donations can be provided and offers of a speaker at a venue, if voluntary is welcome to entertain.

Friday, 17 January 2025

Road Building not the answer to proliferation of pollution and land guzzling! Choose the re-railing of Britain!

There's loads of evidence to suggest roads and proliferations thereof apart from land guzzling, increase traffic and emissions from exhausts, tyres, run-off into streams and more air pollution which affects people and communities in health hazard terms. So: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/01/15/britain-build-more-roads-hit-net-zero-infrastructure-tsar/ would seem erroneous to put it politely!

BRTA seeks to suggest the rtail alternative and our events are worth tapping into and supporting to enable us to gather more support and direct it to aid chances for support where it counts - with decision makers and investors.

I attach a recent diagram, which shows how making more out of the proposed Stansted Airport expansion, could and should mean more and better rail links to it, reuniting east and west Essex and bringing Haverhill into the frame.

Please give us your support and write/email your MP to that end.

Other news since last newsletter, is Neil O'Briend MP for Harborough area, has added his support to our N2MH Campaign and we hope all MP's along the line will do likewise. Thank you.



Here is an example of where switching the new roads budget to greener local rail solutions would make environmental sense, but government is digging heels in? https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/24897104.government-cant-afford-oxfordshire-rail-link-says-minister/