UK transport policy debate...Part2

HOWLERMONKEY Sun Sep 17, 2006 at 08:46:32 PM GMT Print-friendly version Facebook

Transport is one of the most important issues faceing the UK today..Have your say... this is a continuation of my previous Blog entry on transport policy.



This posting has been placed here to invite debate on transport policy within the United Kingdom. If you are a road user, Haulier, or regularly fly, let me know your views. Or if you're a cyclist or pedestrian, this is your chance to input into the policy debate. This is an open thread on a very large subject so if you feel that you need to open and more specific therd please feel free to post a new blog on the main site. Occasionally I'll in chip in with my own views now and again. I hope you will use it. HM.

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UK transport policy debate...Part2 | 20 comments (20 topical)

Re: UK transport policy debate. (#1)

by chrisdoidge on Sun Sep 17, 2006 at 10:56:00 PM GMT

I wrote last weekend about how we need Maglev (or something similarly fast in the UK). Current rail prices can't be justified unless it's both faster and cheaper to get from A to B.


Re: UK transport policy debate. (#10)

by HOWLERMONKEY on Fri Sep 22, 2006 at 09:28:25 PM GMT

Magnetic train crashes in Germany  

Rescuers had to use ladders and cranes to reach the train
An elevated magnetic train has crashed on a test track in north-western Germany, killing at least one person.
The train, which floats on a monorail via a magnetic levitation system called Maglev, was going at 200km/h (120 mph) when it crashed, a local official said.
Some carriages were left balancing on a section of track about five metres (16.5ft) in the air after the accident near the town of Lathen.
The driverless train hit a maintenance vehicle on the track, officials said.
Hermann Broering, a local official quoted by the Associated Press, said 10 people had been rescued and one dead body recovered so far. He said the death toll might rise to 18.
The train was carrying at least 30 people at the time.
From BBC news... I am very sorry to hear this story.


[ Parent ]

Re: UK transport policy debate. (#20)

by mt999 on Fri Oct 20, 2006 at 08:27:31 PM GMT

No one seems to want to reply to my point that a transport policy is hopeless when hundreds of thousands of people are being added to the population every year. The more people there are the less chance there is of having a decent transport system.


[ Parent ]

Re: UK transport policy debate. (#2)

by HOWLERMONKEY on Mon Sep 18, 2006 at 02:45:45 AM GMT

I've just read your piece on the maglev. Personally I will settle for something else.  The idea of spending 16 billion on a London to Glasgow ultra high-speed rail line doesn't float my boat for me in Cornwall, or anyone else living away from the line. I certainly as a tax payer would prefer the money more evenly spread around the system than having a Premier Service. Probably at the expense of the rest of the system, that I'll probably never travel on. You asked the question in your piece "Would you prefer to replace Trident or have the high-speed line".... I think I would prefer Trident myself as it might be a bit more useful than a high-speed rail link to Glasgow.


Re: UK transport policy debate. (#3)

by alexhilton on Mon Sep 18, 2006 at 05:55:13 AM GMT

Is it possible we need a more comprehensive look at transport - rather than shooting down one project at a time? Not meaning to offend of course Howler


[ Parent ]

Re: UK transport policy debate. (#4)

by HOWLERMONKEY on Mon Sep 18, 2006 at 06:27:22 PM GMT

It's a valid point..But this needs to be seen as a UK issue.I knowe that I've winged about metrocentric stuff befor, but as somone who lives out on the fring it's a PINTA


[ Parent ]

Re: UK transport policy debate. (#15)

by Taggert on Mon Oct 09, 2006 at 09:37:37 PM GMT

A high speed rail link between Glasgow and London would only be the first stage in a radical modernisation of our railways surely. If the Victorians had taken your attitude, Cornwall would still be an isolated fishing port with its own time zone.
Try to be positive and have something that Britain can be proud of once again.


[ Parent ]

Re: UK transport policy debate...Part2 (#5)

by otware on Mon Sep 18, 2006 at 10:39:00 PM GMT

The primary aim of British transport policy should be to reduce damage to the environment. This means that biofules must be promoted and inefficient vehicles must be taxed more. Public transport also should be nationalised (in my opinion).


Re: UK transport policy debate...Part2 (#6)

by alexhilton on Tue Sep 19, 2006 at 01:29:31 AM GMT

Shouldn't the primary aim be to move people from A to B? Surely reducing environmental damage is more of a high second priority for transport policy?


[ Parent ]

Re: UK transport policy debate...Part2 (#7)

by Glass House on Tue Sep 19, 2006 at 02:49:55 AM GMT

I think balance between priorities should be the starting point. Otware is right that the environment should be one of the main priorites. Moving people from A to B is another - as is any indivual project's regerative and economic benefits.

Projects that tick all those boxes (to some extent) should get the go ahead. Those that don't shouldn't.

Nationalised, privatised, I don't care - whatever is best for each individual project.


[ Parent ]

Re: UK transport policy debate...Part2 (#8)

by bornin84 on Tue Sep 19, 2006 at 06:11:05 PM GMT

How can moving people from A to B not be THE main priority for transport policy?


[ Parent ]

Re: UK transport policy debate...Part2 (#17)

by Taggert on Mon Oct 09, 2006 at 09:53:04 PM GMT

The primary aim of a transport system is surely to transport?!
Environmental issues are obviously a concern, but at present there are a high number of electrically powered trains, surely the most environmental power we have at present. Could you say the same for our cars? And taxing things more will not remove the problem, only finding new solutions will.


[ Parent ]

Re: UK transport policy debate...Part2 (#9)

by HOWLERMONKEY on Wed Sep 20, 2006 at 10:11:25 PM GMT

It would be nice not to have to travel from A to B quite so much, and hopefully with the aid of broadband and other high-speed data transfers this could be achieved for a greater number of the population... and I wouldn't have to charge up-and-down the A303 to London so often.

Note I am flying were up-to- Manchester for Labour Party conference, because it's the quickest and also the cheapest means of getting there. it's half the price of the car, and quarter of the price of the train...


Re: UK transport policy debate...Part2 (#11)

by JR on Sun Sep 24, 2006 at 02:17:07 AM GMT

Maglev certainly is a great idea but I feel it has little to no chance of being implemented anytime soon simply due to the costs involved.

From a personal perspective, within the Manchester area, the number 1 reason that people felt anger towards Labour at the last general election was because of the lack of funding for the Metrolink system. Even though this has been partly rectified in recent weeks, the funding is still not adequate enough and the Labour govt. are seen by many as anti-tram or anti-metro.

The same happened in Leeds when their proposed Supertram system was rejected. While Alistair Darling was Transport Secretary, he rejected similar schemes in Nottingham, Birmingham, Liverpool, Bristol and South Hampshire, much to the annoyance of many.

I think one of the key solutions to Britain's transport problems is light rail systems in our major cities and urban areas. Most European countries realise this and even America is moving towards this idea - but Britain, despite the increases in investment, still lag behind severely and congestion on our roads still blights us.


Re: UK transport policy debate...Part2 (#16)

by Taggert on Mon Oct 09, 2006 at 09:46:22 PM GMT

Maglev is only a Scientists expensive play thing, not a viable transport solution. We have many other ways of improving our rail network and light rail is certainly not the answer by itself.
Road congestion could be reduced if more goods travelled long distance by rail and ridiculous free market economics such as Scottish Prawns being sent to China to be shelled then re-imported cause unnecessary traffic which doesn't help the situation.
The rail network needs one Fat Controller, one ticketing system and one maintenance department to attract passengers and freight. Not a club for entrepreneurs to play trains...


[ Parent ]

Re: UK transport policy debate...Part2 (#12)

by dancrawford on Thu Oct 05, 2006 at 05:15:33 AM GMT

Somebody really does need to do something about the state of the track going into and out of Reading on the London Paddington-Exeter St. Davids route. It's been a good couple of years now since the crash and whenever we've got warm weather or a little bit of sleet it just grinds to a halt.


Re: UK transport policy debate...Part2 (#13)

by mt999 on Sun Oct 08, 2006 at 12:53:51 PM GMT

I can't help but feel that the government are fighting a hopeless battle with transport. With our population growing rapidly congestion/overcrowding can only get worse and worse. The more people there are the harder it is to provide an adequate transport system, and our population is only going in one direction under Labour.


Re: UK transport policy debate...Part2 (#14)

by Charlotte Mackenzie on Mon Oct 09, 2006 at 06:38:41 PM GMT

We need to move the environmental debate on transport forward - see here for proposed individual carbon allowances compared to Lib Dem 'green' road tax in the UK's poorest county http://charlottemackenzie.blogspot.com/


Re: UK transport policy debate...Part2 (#18)

by HOWLERMONKEY on Tue Oct 10, 2006 at 07:58:30 AM GMT

the first paragraph has been lifted from Charlotte MacKenzie's blog.

 The idea being that everyone would have the same carbon allowance carried on a smart card which would be debited every time someone bought petrol or a plane ticket, or paid a fuel bill. Those using less could sell their remaining allowance to others who are determined to continue to use more. I think this would be much more effective in changing behaviour - and fairer - than some of the green taxation proposals.

Some questions....

Would this scheme is mandatory?
Would it be integrated into the national identity card and if not, how?
Would none UK ID card holders be taxed:
Is there to be a variable rate for vehicles considered to be more polluting/ anti-social? Would it also be variable by postcode or income?


[ Parent ]

Re: UK transport policy debate...Part2 (#19)

by HOWLERMONKEY on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 09:45:00 AM GMT

Please see."Defra incompetence and the Canal system"Blog, as this is related.


UK transport policy debate...Part2 | 20 comments (20 topical)