MP Jake Berry praises rail investment

3:31pm Thursday 19th July 2012 in Blackburn

A MULTI million pound investment in the rail network in and around Manchester has been welcomed by Darwen and Rossendale MP Jake Berry.

Justine Greening, Secretary of State for Transport, announced the news as part of a £9.4 billion Government investment nationally.

Mr Berry said: “The Prime Minister has called this the biggest modernisation of our railways since the Victorian era, and he’s right. Just as we are dealing with the budget deficit, so we are also determined to deal with the massive infrastructure deficit.

“These plans will increase capacity, help passengers to get between our cities faster and importantly also help freight make better use of the network.”

Comments (2)

4:56pm Thu 19 Jul 12

Noiticer says...

Perhaps Jake Berry would like to tell us how it will benefit the people of NE Lancs because, as far as I can see our local lines will still have old, diesel rolling stock and low line speeds. No mention of redoubling the line between Darwen and Bolton. Yes, there will be improvements to Manchester Victoria and electrification of routes to Preston and Liverpool but these won't affect our local services which remain the Cinderellas of the network despite all the good work the Community Rail Partnership has done with relatively limited funds.
Perhaps Jake Berry would like to tell us how it will benefit the people of NE Lancs because, as far as I can see our local lines will still have old, diesel rolling stock and low line speeds. No mention of redoubling the line between Darwen and Bolton. Yes, there will be improvements to Manchester Victoria and electrification of routes to Preston and Liverpool but these won't affect our local services which remain the Cinderellas of the network despite all the good work the Community Rail Partnership has done with relatively limited funds. Noiticer

5:54pm Thu 19 Jul 12

Darren1951 says...

Hear, hear Noticer!

As far as I've been able to make out, the "Nothern Hub" plan to improve services in and out of Manchester doesn't even mention the Ribble Valley line, and there don't seem to any actual commitments in this latest announcement. Northern Rail have said that they favour introducing "a longer passing loop at Darwen" - big deal! If there's a problem on the line S of Blackburn or N of Bromley Cross, anwhere in between will still be stuffed. With complete double tracking, the volumes of both passenger and freight traffic could be increased dramatically, and if one track has to be closed for a few hours, a reduced service, sinilar to the present one, could still be operated.

As with so many other things nowadays, it's all hype and no substance. And they haven't even mentioned the "consultants" yet......pass me the pistol Carruthers.
Hear, hear Noticer! As far as I've been able to make out, the "Nothern Hub" plan to improve services in and out of Manchester doesn't even mention the Ribble Valley line, and there don't seem to any actual commitments in this latest announcement. Northern Rail have said that they favour introducing "a longer passing loop at Darwen" - big deal! If there's a problem on the line S of Blackburn or N of Bromley Cross, anwhere in between will still be stuffed. With complete double tracking, the volumes of both passenger and freight traffic could be increased dramatically, and if one track has to be closed for a few hours, a reduced service, sinilar to the present one, could still be operated. As with so many other things nowadays, it's all hype and no substance. And they haven't even mentioned the "consultants" yet......pass me the pistol Carruthers. Darren1951

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