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Network Rail invites consultants to draw up study for new railway lines
Jun 24,2008 00:00
by
sandhya
Network Rail said it is inviting bids from civil engineering consultants to help it draw up a study for potential new railway lines across Britain. The national track and signals operator said it has launched a tendering process to appoint a consultancy to carry out the study by summer 2009. It expects to announce the successful bidder by the end of July. NR said the study will cover five of its strategic routes North and West of London, including the Chiltern main line from London Marylebone, the East Coast between King's Cross and Edinburgh, the West Coast from London Euston to Glasgow, the Great Western from London Paddington to Wales and the West Country and the Midland main line from London to Derby and Sheffield. Of the five lines, only the East Coast and West Coast are electrified. The study could result in the development of new French-style high speed lines similar to the route from London to the Channel Tunnel opened last year. NR said the new lines, if built, would help to prevent the network running out of space by 2025 and would reduce the need for domestic air travel and car use. NR Chief Executive Iain Coucher said: 'With the popularity of rail growing, we have to start planning for the medium- and long-term future today.' philip.waller@thomsonreuters.com http://www.forbes.com/afxnewslimited/feeds/afx/2008/06/23/afx5142012.html |