Department for Transport - New Line Capacity Study (Global)

Services Provided

Temple was commissioned to provide environmental and sustainability expertise and advice in the study for a new North-South rail link in the UK and to investigate alternative options as part of the capacity review.  The study was undertaken for the Department for Transport to meet a political commitment to explore the feasibility and affordability of a new high-speed link.

The new line is being proposed and examined as a means of relieving congestion on the existing rail network, and would link London to Edinburgh, with intermediate stops at other major cities.

Our remit comprised three core areas of work, notably:

1. Strategic review of environmental policy for rail programmes

2. High level review of environmental issues for new line options

3. Environmental review at scheme and route level

Strategic Review of Environmental Policy for Rail Programmes

At the high level, Temple provided a strategic policy review for rail programmes, including the High Level Output Specification (HLOS).  This involved a desktop review of policy at EU, national and regional levels, relating to sustainability, environment, transport, planning, regeneration and urban growth.  Over a hundred documents were considered. 

The exercise used a framework template (objectives) to appraise which aspects of sustainability had been addressed in transport policy and the extent to which these were compliant.

Recent transport policy statements in relation to sustainability and environment were identified.  In doing so, possible high level sustainability and environment aims or outputs for the HLOS and other rail programmes were defined.

As well as published current policy, emerging and future policy drivers were also considered, including: EU policy and strategy; government reports and statements; parliamentary reports; opposition party policy; devolved administration policies; funding and partnership opportunities; and the work of certain non-governmental organisations.

This first tier of work provided an important assessment of the current and future policy context within which high level decision-making for rail policy and programmes should sit.

High Level Review of Environmental Issues for New Line Options

The second tier of the project examined the environmental and sustainability characteristics (benefits and disbenefits) of five rail options for a new line:

• High speed line (HSL);
• Hybrid line – conventional and high speed;
• Maglev;
• Freight line; and,
• Multi-tracking.

Information from over two hundred sources on these different rail options was reviewed, using the framework of environmental objectives developed in the first tier of work (see above).

In examining the evidence on the rail modes, the study also identified the broader range of factors driving a new line, including political ambitions, legislation and funding from the EU, sustainable development priorities, congestion and capacity, regional development and the public and professional debates around rail, especially those focused on HSL.

Case studies were reviewed, including HSL networks in the UK (the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL), France, Netherlands, Germany, Spain and Japan.  Emerging Maglev networks were also reviewed.  The case study review documented a valuable series of ‘lessons learnt’ in environment and sustainability terms for any potential new line in the UK.

Environmental Review at Route and Scheme Level

The third work component cascaded down from policy and transport options to route and scheme level. 

This element of the study involved examining the environmental and planning features (both constraints and opportunities) that might be affected by a new line, based on a sample North-South route developed by the Department for Transport.

The process for undertaking this work involved:

• Identifying key environmental features early in the planning process, through a mapping exercise;
• Researching the significance of these features, including any potential ‘route stoppers’;
• Identifying opportunities for mitigation;
• Evaluating the risk that environmental features may pose to the programme and delivery of a new line;
• Estimating significant costs associated with environmental management and mitigation; and,
• Developing a programme for planning and implementing a new line, based on experience with other major UK rail projects, including CTRL, Thameslink and Crossrail.

Benefits

Temple was able to bring the following benefits to the client and the overall project:

• a wealth of experience in planning major rail projects, including the West Coast Mainline, Thameslink Programme (Thameslink 2000), Crossrail and the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL);
• experience of research, policy review, option appraisal and risk assessment for major infrastructure developments;
• a full understanding of the importance of environment and sustainability in the wider planning context;
• a multi-disciplinary team of recognised experts in environmental and project management, and a range of technical disciplines including ecology, noise and vibration, air quality;
• Carbon modelling and a comparison of the relative contribution from different transport modes and options under consideration and
• an ability to complete work in a very short timescale, given the availability of experienced senior personnel.