Calls to boost county rail use (From Ledbury Reporter)

Calls to boost county rail use

8:30am Tuesday 29th January 2013 in News

A LOBBY group campaigning for a better county transport system says that faster trains are not the main priority when it comes to improving the railways.

The Hereford Times reported last week that quicker trains could be in operation in the county within four years as part of Network Rail’s £37.5 billion scheme for Britain’s railways.

For the plan to work, a new modular signalling system would replace the current mechanical signalling that is controlled by 13 signal boxes, while automatic half-barrier crossings at Leominster would be converted to full barrier types.

Signalling enhancements have already been planned at Hereford railway station next year, which will allow improved services to Newport, Shrewsbury, Malvern, Worcester, Birmingham, Oxford and London.

But Les Lumsdon, chairman of Rail for Herefordshire, said that even though the group welcomes any investment, Network Rail should focus on other areas, particularly at Hereford.

“The bi-directional signals would allow more trains to come in and out of the stations and run more efficiently, which we think is great,” he said. “But the main issue is the lift at Hereford, which we have been promised for years, but still haven’t got one.

“Signalling on the Marches line will allow 100mph trains, but that is not the priority, especially as they can go at 75mph at the moment anyway.

“The problem is when people get to Hereford there is no room for pedestrians and there is nothing there that is attractive.”