Skip to main content

Closer running and investment to boost capacity of Britain’s railways, says new report

Closer running to increase the frequency of train services, alongside investment in new railway infrastructure, are recommendations to boost UK rail capacity in the new report by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and the Transportation Research Laboratory (TRL). The report, Increasing capacity; putting Britain’s railways back on track, makes recommendations to meet growing rail passenger demand, which is forecast to double by the 2040s. The Institution of Mechanical Engineers and TRL are offering s
January 4, 2017 Read time: 2 mins
Closer running to increase the frequency of train services, alongside investment in new railway infrastructure, are recommendations to boost UK rail capacity in the new report by the 5025 Institution of Mechanical Engineers and the Transportation Research Laboratory (TRL).

The report, Increasing capacity; putting Britain’s railways back on track, makes recommendations to meet growing rail passenger demand, which is forecast to double by the 2040s. The Institution of Mechanical Engineers and TRL are offering sustainable solutions for the challenges to ease crowding, improve punctuality, and unlock capacity.

The new report highlights changes already being implemented and makes four key recommendations for the rail industry and Government to further increase the UK railway capacity urgently:

It recommends speeding up new technologies already being worked on and pioneering closer-running to increase the frequency of train services and fast-track the development of secure train-to-train communication systems.

The report also proposes implementing the solutions already developed and making the most of technology like REPOINT for more reliable, quicker-operating sets of points and SUSTRAIL for faster freight.

It also suggests creating the next batch of new solutions, particularly post-Brexit, and ramping up British R&D investment to replace EU funding for new solutions, coupled with stimulation of matched private sector commitment to create better UK railways.

It calls for investment in the delivery of known solutions to relieve bottlenecks, including building new railway infrastructure for capacity (new high speed lines, electrification, local connectivity) and other well-proven techniques like flyovers and shorter signalling sections.

According to the report, the UK railway system carries more than twice as many passengers as 20 years ago; passengers per km have increased by 116 per cent and freight tonnage per km 34 per cent. Rail passenger demand is predicted to double again by the 2040s.

Related Content

  • May 26, 2020
    OpenSpace visualises how social distancing will work
    OpenSpace CEO Nicolas Le Glatin tells Adam Hill how Xovis camera tech might help unlock more convenient ways for moving through mobility hubs during Covid-19
  • March 30, 2015
    Global smart railways system - increased adoption of analytics and big data
    The Global Smart Railway System market is predicted to grow at a CAGR of 26.76 per cent over the period 2014-2019, according to Research and Markets’ latest report, Global Smart Railways System Market 2015-2019. The report has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from industry experts. It covers the APAC region, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and North America; it covers the Global Smart Railway System market landscape and its growth prospects in the coming years and inclu
  • July 8, 2019
    London needs just one road user charge, says report
    London’s patchwork of road charging schemes should be replaced by a single, distance-based user charge, according to new research. Apart from anything else, it would be much fairer… The UK capital’s multiple road charging schemes require a radical overhaul, according to a new report by the Centre for London thinktank. The suggested solution is to replace existing levies on drivers with a single, distance-based user charge which would more fairly reflect how much, and at what time, people are using London
  • March 12, 2014
    Future Railway launches pantograph design competition
    As part of the UK’s rail electrification programme, FutureRailway is launching a competition to design a Pantograph Dynamic Behaviour Measurement Device for use in Rolling Stock Maintenance Depots. Currently pantographs cannot be run too close together and are limited in the speed they can achieve. Electric trains which can run at faster speeds whilst coupled together in multiple could improve both train performance and network capacity. Improvements in pantograph capability are thought to be needed to r