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London to South Midlands Multi-Modal Study

Background

The long-term strategy of the study is to meet passenger and freight needs in what is one of the most prosperous economic areas in the country. The study was divided into two parts, the first to develop an area-wide regional strategy and the second, to develop detailed plans for the four corridors that link London and the south east to the rest of the country ­ M1, M11, A1 and A5. The area is particularly important for freight movements, especially by road, but also includes a number of major rail corridors that are of national importance.

Recommendations

Northern Bypass; Luton Northern bypass; A1 Brampton to Alconbury, Sandy to Beeston and a climbing lane northbound junction 6 ­ 8; M11 junctions 8 ­ 9 and junctions 9 ­ 14; A14/M1 junction 19; A421 west of M1 and from M1 to Bedford bypass; A428 east of A1 to Caxton Gibbet. The rail recommendations are for more track or increased capacity on: West Coast main line, Watford Junction, Rugby to Birmingham, Bedford to Leicester with an extension of Thameslink from Bedford to Northampton; East Coast main line, Welwyn to Knebworth, Huntingdon to Peterborough and West Anglia main line, Tottenham Hale to Bishops Stortford and an additional tunnel at Stansted Airport. The use of Intelligent Transport Systems was recommended as was a consideration of road user charging.

Importance to Industry

The study area is an ideal location for national distribution centres because of its links to the M1, M42 and M6 ­ the ‘golden triangle’ as well as the number of key rail lines that serve the region. As such it was clear from the outset that no single mode could solve the problems in the study area and that the strategy would rest on a combination or road and rail investment.

Transport infrastructure announcement 9 July 2003 - industry views

The M1 is one of FTA's trade routes and therefore we have no hesitation in welcoming the go ahead given to improvements between Junction 6a to Junction 13. Further work is to be carried out on most of the other study recommendations, including:

• M11 Junction 8 to Junction 9 dualling
• M11 Junction 9 to Junction 14 dualling
• A428 A1 to Caxton dualling
• A14 Kettering bypass widening
• A1 Sandy and Beeston bypass
• A1 Brampton to Alconbury

Our concern is the delay this will cause and we would hope that should these schemes be taken forward, that planning procedures are expedited.

Area Map:
Dates:	Reported: February 2003
	Ministerial decision expected: Spring 2003
	Target date for completion of works: 2003

	Continue to M60 JETTS Junction 18 to 12 Multi Modal Study
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Last updated: Wed Feb 4 11:40:31 2004