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Research and Reports

A database of documents and reports released by industry bodies. You can download the document by clicking on its title, and can filter reports by author or subject. If you have a report you would like to submit to the Rail Hub, please email [email protected].

 

  • Destination Growth: the case for Britain’s regional railways

    24/09/2015
    Passenger Transport Executive Group SearchResearchItems

    Major investment in regional railways is needed if they are to meet their potential, argues this report commissioned by pteg. Demand on regional railways rose 66% between 2002/3 and 2014/5 and the services carry over three times more passengers than long distance trains. However, the average age of rolling stock on regional railways has risen 30%, while much of the network still has Victorian and/or rationalised infrastructure. “This lack of investment is already beginning to limit growth,” argues the report, “and this will only get worse in the future.” If a ‘business as usual’ approach is taken, pteg suggests that by 2045 the regional fleet may have grown 40% - but this will have failed to keep up with demand growth of 76%. Instead, the report argues there is a case for new diesel fleets split into regional express, urban commuter and rural trains - or even regional electrification. This would mean electrifying a further 8,000 route-km. Benefits would include increased connectivity and capacity (and growth in demand), and the report suggests cost/benefit ratios of 4.36 for electrification and 3.89 for a diesel-based upgrade.

  • Policy futures for urban transport

    10/06/2015
    Passenger Transport Executive Group SearchResearchItems

    Maps out the policies needed to build on recent progress on devolution to the city regions on transport, in order to achieve a wider vision of smart and integrated transport networks that deliver growth. The report finds that there is a strong consensus that Britain's city regions are key to rebalancing the economy. It says that with the right national policy lead we can make further progress to deliver modern, efficient and fully integrated urban transport networks accessible via smart and simple ticketing systems. We can also drive forward the transformation of strategic links between the cities around common priorities.

  • Delivering the future – New approaches to urban freight

    01/02/2015
    Passenger Transport Executive Group SearchResearchItems

    Using case studies involving a trial in the UK and regular services in mainland Europe, PTEG highlights that city railway stations have great potential as central hubs for freight distribution. It says these facilities are barely used at night and can be served by trains acting as high speed mobile warehouses. The fact that all the sorting and loading could take place within the station building helps to minimise the noise and disturbance for local residents. It also opens up opportunities to use short-range low emission vehicles to transport goods over the last mile it adds.