Superlink (railway network)

Superlink was a proposal for a new UK railway network to connect London, the south-east Midlands and south-east England.

It was an alternative proposal from a group of senior railway managers, who played leading roles in other UK rail projects. It suggested changes and enhancements to the Crossrail network. The proponents of Superlink claim Crossrail gives poor value for money and is unlikely to be built. They suggested that benefits of the current scheme, including relief of congestion on the public transportation network within London, had been overstated.

Rejection

In a 2005 report, CLRL examined the proposal and rejected it on the following groundscite web | title=SuperCrossRail and Superlink Update Report | publisher=CLRL | url=http://www.crossrail.co.uk/pages/supercrossrailandsuperlink.html | date= 2005-05-24 | accessdate=2008-05-30] :
* The large number of branches and long distances would not be compatible with short and regular train intervals through the central tunnel, leading to performance problems and transmission of delay between parts of the network.
* Although increased demand for commuting into London is predicted in the regions served, these are already planned to be catered for with less costly train lengthening. Also, development and planning policy in these regions seeks to achieve sustainable growth and local employment, with less reliance on long distance commuting.
* CLRL found the cost estimates of Superlink to be unreliable, eroding a key claim that it would be easier to finance than Crossrail. The estimated construction cost is 55% greater.
* Superlink would require construction of new track and possibly a depot and stations in the green belt between Barkingside, Shenfield and Harlow. This causes environmental and planning issues.

ee also

* Heathrow Airtrack

References

External links

* [http://www.superlink.org.uk/ Official project website]

* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/4096667.stm Rival cross-city rail plan aired] BBC News