The Department for Transport (DfT) is to provide funding for a study into a possible upgrade of the railway between London and Devon and Cornwall.
Commissioned by Great Western Railway (GWR) and delivered by Network Rail, the study will look into what upgrades could be made to make the most of the new AT300 trains, which are set to arrive from 2018.
The study, which will explore the benefits of signalling and track infrastructure improvements, will be incorporated into a report to be submitted by the Peninsula Rail Task Force to the government this summer.
Rail Minister Claire Perry said: “I was determined to find a funding solution for this study to look at line speed improvements and I am delighted that Great Western Railway have provided the backing.
“We are absolutely committed to improving the resilience of the south west’s rail network, with more than £70 million invested in this route so far and routine maintenance continuing to strengthen the line further.”
GWR’s commercial development director Matthew Golton said: “In the coming years we will be delivering the biggest fleet upgrade in a generation of the Great Western network – including a brand new fleet of trains for customers travelling between Devon and Cornwall and London to deliver faster, more frequent services into the capital from 2018.
“With such significant investment on its way, we need to take the opportunity now to make sure the right infrastructure can be in place to maximise the journey time, frequency and capacity benefits that the new AT300 fleet will bring.
“Our report will help provide information and data to help support the business case for further infrastructure improvements and better connectivity for the region.”
Class 43 HST are still the best British built High Speed Diesel Intercity Locomotive but these trains along with the Class 91+MK3+DVT Intercity fleets and Class 180 DMU are soon to be replaced by the Class 800, Class 801 and Class 802 Hitachi IEP trains for Great Western Railway, Virgin East Coast and Hull Trains.
With the electrification expanded to South Wales and as far as Exeter St. Davis and Bristol Temple Meads.
Wiring from Bristol to Exeter does not feature as a part of Network Rail’s electrification plans in either CP5 or CP6. It is a long way down the list of national priorities. It will be interesting to see if this study funded by First even bothers to make a financial case for wires – I doubt it as the bi-mode AT300s will soon be reality and can be expected to remain in service for at least 30 years.