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Problems transport guru must tackle
Evening Standard Last updated at 00:00am on 18.03.05Retiring British Airways chief executive Rod Eddington has been recruited by the Government to help advise Transport Secretary Alistair Darling on future long term projects.
He will offer his views from 2015. We assess his key challenges:
Sort out the Tube
Problem: Investment in trains, stations and track renewal are already years behind schedule.
Strategy:One option is to relieve the pressure on Tube and rail by finally sorting out Crossrail - which should have been completed by 2012.
Relieve overloaded major routes
Problem: Key roads encircling London unable to cope with growing traffic.
Strategy: Boost capacity of key routes to keep pressure off the M25. Major new park-and-ride schemes around M25, based at motorway service areas. Motorists could dump cars at airportstyle car parks with shuttles to rail or bus interchanges heading into London.
Cut rail overcrowding
Problem: How to increase capacity on commuter routes when tracks are already jammed full and there is no more room for extra trains.
Strategy: Possible solutions include ripping out seats to allow more people to cram on - or even double decker
Airport Expansion
Problem: How to provide extra runways without increased noise and pollution levels.
Strategy: Controlled expansion at regional airports like Luton and Stansted. Cut pollution levels in time for 2018 EU deadline.
Curb city-centre congestion
Problem: Traffic on London's roads is projected to rise by 20 per cent by 2015.
Strategy: Tunnel new toll roads and car parks directly under the capital as in Boston, USA. The AA Motoring Trust and RAC Foundation say £4 billion would provide "core" tunnels leading from major routes such as the M40 and A13.
End parking confusion
Problem: Incoherent parking strategy across London with different rules and restrictions.
Strategy: Harmonised regulations across London, increase use of "cashless" payment by mobile phone, and "bookable" parking spaces.
Cut soaring pollution
Problem: High emission levels causing dangerous smog over London.
Strategy: Urge motorists to use cleaner, greener cars such as electric or bi-fuel. Drivers of environment-friendly vehicles should be rewarded with free parking and exemptions from any new road-pricing.
