Study with FGW (/GWR) on a high speed line
Dear TransportFocus / Passengers Council,
In late 2002 there was a flurry of news reports about First Great Western – as they were at the time – launching a feasibility study into a new-build “200mph” high speed line for the GWML corridor. And amongst these report it was said by several that “the Rail Passengers Council” was working with FGW on the study. I’ve provided links below to some of those news articles.
- https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2002/oct/...
- https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/658588...
- https://www.gazetteandherald.co.uk/news/...
It appears that no materials from said study were ever published and it is reported (https://www.businessdestinations.com/mov...) to have been abandoned part way through.
I would be appreciative if you could release any materials, reports, correspondence, etc relating to said study.
Yours faithfully
Jessika Venn
Dear Ms Venn
Freedom of Information Act 2000 - information request
Thank you for your request for information. You may not have specified or
referred to the above Act in your request, but we are treating your
request within its provisions.
The date we received your request was: 28 January 2025
The target date for responding to you is: 25 February 20225
The unique reference number allocated to your request is: TWD-30893-F5R8W5
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Susan James
Transport Focus
The independent transport user watchdog
Transport Focus
References
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1. mailto:[email%20address]
Dear Ms Venn
Freedom of Information Act 2000 - information request
Thank you for your request for information. Your request has now been
considered and the information you have requested is below.
That refers to the time when there was a network of regional committees –
Rail User Consultative Committees - RUCC – set up under the 1993 Railways
Act. The subject of the would have been handled by the RUCC for Western
England. These regional committees were closed down under the 2005
Railways Act.
I have a copy of the annual report of that committee for 2002/3, copy of
which is attached. This mentions the subject in passing – paragraph 41.
“We therefore welcomed First Group’s invitation to regional stakeholders
to engage with it in exploring the potential case for a Japanese - or
French-style very high-speed solution for a dedicated new route to the
West.”
Any discussions at that time would have been with the regional committee.
We do not have a copy of any subsequent report – if indeed one was ever
produced – or any relevant correspondence.
In the event that you are not satisfied with this response, please refer
to the attached 'could we have done better' leaflet.
Thank you for contacting Transport Focus.
Susan James
Transport Focus
The independent transport user watchdog
Transport Focus
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