Signalling is key to boosting transport capacity

1/1/2008

IRG commissions Credo Group to undertake a detailed study of the costs of increasing capacity on both rail and roads in the UK

IRG has sponsored a comprehensive independent review of the costs of different methods of increasing capacity in road & rail environments. The Transport Capacity study was undertaken by leading management consultants Credo and investigates those areas where investment in the transportation infrastructure will generate the greatest increase in the movement of people and freight in the UK.

The report used over thirty published sources to compare the costs and capacity increases provided by a range of real world transport infrastructure projects. The information was also supplemented by interviews with people in government bodies, trade associations and companies within the various industries.

The information these sources provided was then analysed to compare the incremental capacity increase for every pound spent, measured consistently as [people per hour] / [£m per km]. This method is more transparent than more complex cost/benefit modelling, and reveals what many believe to be a clearer road map for the further investment on transportation systems.

Key Findings

Train lengthening and signalling upgrades offer the best economics over more infrastructure based methods such as widening and new build
Re-instatement is a more cost effective way of adding capacity than new build
Widening of existing infrastructure is the most expensive form of capacity increase; 3x more expensive than road infrastructure. The rail examples show that new build and widening are of similar values, however due to the lower frequency of long distance trains, the capacity benefit isn’t great when compared to the cost.
The dense urban environment has limited options for new build capacity increase, particularly in road. New metros are the most expensive dense urban transport solution, however they also give the highest capacity by a considerable margin.
Freight traffic is more complex in its requirements, with signalling improvement needing to be linked to gauge enhancements to provide capacity benefit.

To download the complete report, please click on the link below:

http://www.ballard.co.uk/press_releases/company_releases.aspx?story=1015

« Back