Railfuture is calling for £33million of regional funding which had been earmarked for a rejected road scheme to be used to restore double track on the main railway line between Kemble and Swindon.
The controversial Westbury bypass was turned down in July by Communities Secretary John Denham. Now Railfuture Severnside is suggesting that the money be spent elsewhere in Wiltshire to relieve a major bottleneck in the region’s rail network.
“Now that the Government has decided to electrify the main lines from London Paddington to Bristol and South Wales, the Kemble route will carry a large number of diverted trains while the work is carried out," said Railfuture Severnside's Nigel Bray.
"This makes it essential that the 12-mile single track section is doubled as soon as possible.”
He added that the line via Kemble is the only realistic alternative route for trains between South Wales and south-east England whenever the Severn Tunnel or the routes leading to it are closed for engineering work or by any other obstruction.
The Kemble line is also the main rail artery between Gloucestershire and London.
Jim Knight MP, the Minister for the South West, has said that if the South West Regional Development Agency can produce “an agreed, realistic and deliverable five year programme” by November 16 then the funds that had previously been allocated to the Westbury bypass, which has been refused planning permission, could be re-allocated to fully fund the Swindon to Kemble scheme.
Cotswold MP Geoffrey Clifton-Brown who has campaigned for the line's redoubling along with local councillors said: "The case is not yet closed and there remains much work to be done before 16 November and I will be doing all I can to liaise with the South West RDA, the Department for Transport and Network Rail to ensure that this work finally gets the green light.”
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For further information please contact:
Bruce Williamson, media spokesman
Tel: 0117 927 2954 Mobile: 07759 557389
media at railfuture.org.uk
Nigel Bray, Railfuture Severnside
Tel: 01452 501986