Closing the Gap – the South West Peninsula Strategic Rail Blueprint

‘Closing the Gap’ is the Peninsula Rail Task Force’s (PRTF) plan for long-term investment in the South West peninsula’s strategic rail network. The plan was officially launched to Government on 22 November 2016.

Vision

The plan sets out the Task Force’s ambition for a 21st-century rail network, built around three core priorities:

  • Resilience and reliability

  • Faster journey times

  • Improved connectivity with sufficient capacity

    Why It Matters

    Following extensive research with the rail industry, ‘Closing the Gap’ highlights the improvements needed to address the widening gap between the South West and the rest of the UK in terms of rail funding and infrastructure. Investment in these priorities is expected to generate over £8.4 billion in economic benefits over the next 20 years.

    Supporting Evidence

    An  appendix to the report highlights the improvements needed to address the widening gap between the South West and the rest of the UK in terms of rail funding and infrastructure. Investment in these priorities is expected to generate over £8.4 billion in economic benefits over the next 20 years.

    The pending Rail Strategy will build on PRTF’s 20-year plan, undertaking an in-depth examination of specific travel corridors, working with strategic partners including Network Rail and Western Gateway.