Rail network report backs expansion

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

Some 14 lines and around 40 new stations have been identified by train operating companies which, if developed, could serve more than a million extra passengers, the authors state.

The report by the Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC) argues that demand for rail services has soared in the last decade and that there is a strong case for refurbishing and reopening old routes.

The Beeching report by Dr Richard Beeching in the 1960s cut the railway network by a third, closing 2,000 stations and 5,000 miles of track.

But the ATOC report stated some 40 towns not currently on the rail network could benefit from the 14 new lines.

Any decision on whether any of the plans get the go ahead would be taken by local and regional government, Network Rail and the Department for Transport.

If all the plans are authorised the costs could reach £500 million, ATOC said.

Much of the infrastructure of the old lines closed in the 1960s is still in place in many areas. These could be refurbished to form part of the new network alongside freight lines which could also be adapted to serve commercial routes.

The additional lines and stations could take between five to 10 years to become operational.

The report also identifies seven new park-and-ride stations that could be built on existing lines.