12 – ENHANCING RAIL SYSTEM CAPACITY THROUGH TARGETED IMPROVEMENTS
12 – ENHANCING RAIL SYSTEM CAPACITY THROUGH TARGETED IMPROVEMENTS
Intervention description
A.107 This intervention is over and above the day-to-day maintenance of the rail network which is the responsibility of Network Rail and set out in Intervention 2.
A.108 There are parts of the railway network that are operating close to or at capacity during peak periods, with limited or no opportunity for additional services to be operated. Much of the existing signalling infrastructure is becoming less fit-for-purpose. This intervention would cover operational and relatively small scale infrastructure measures such as:
- Replacement of Radio Electronic Token Block signalling in the Highland region;
- Provision of additional signal blocks in heavily used parts of the network;
- Replacement of two-aspect signals with three or four aspect signals in heavily used parts of the network;
- Replacement of single lead junctions with double lead junctions as appropriate to improve efficiency; and
- Replacement of low speed junctions and crossovers as appropriate to improve efficiency.
A.109 This intervention provides upgrades for rail signalling, as well as track and junction layouts to reduce headways and allow more trains to use the network.
Contribution towards the Scottish Government’s Purpose
A.110 This intervention would have the effect of improving operational performance and would also lead to reduced journey times where train times are currently constrained by limited capacity and a mix of train speeds. These benefits by themselves would encourage some modal shift from car to rail, hence reducing traffic emissions. In many areas of Scotland, additional rail services could contribute towards objectives where localised rail constraints have been identified. This intervention would provide a strategy to systematically address these constraints.
A.111 The main benefits of this intervention include:
- Reducing conflict between services;
- Improving efficiency;
- Reducing journey time variability;
- Improving reliability and resilience; and
- Providing room for growth.
Links to Other Strategies
A.112 The requirement for strategic rail infrastructure capacity enhancements is highlighted in the National Transport Strategy (Scotland’s Railways and Freight Action Plan) as well as the Scottish Planning Assessment and Route Utilisation Strategy. The significance of providing for rail freight access to ports is highlighted in the second National Planning Framework (NPF2), with the International Container Terminal at Rosyth being recognised as a ‘National Development’.
Current Status of Project
A.113 Some parts of this intervention have been developed as part of proposals in Network Rail’s Scottish Route Utilisation Strategy34, and national schemes to replace life-expired signalling and trackside equipment. It is expected that improvement schemes as part of this intervention will be developed to deliver the required route capacity improvements.
Indicative Costs
A.114 This intervention is estimated to cost in the region of £100m - £250m.
Deliverability
A.115 This intervention will be deliverable by Transport Scotland in partnership with Network Rail in their role as owner and operator of the rail infrastructure. Implementing this intervention would require work to take place on the existing rail network. This work would have to be carried out during possessions, where parts of the railway network would be closed, impacting on passenger journeys. However, much of this would could coincide with general maintenance of the network and take place during periods of low demand.