Our latest report: North vs South: an exploration of the differences in rail service provision, looks into the differences between commuting by train in the north and south.
The research shows that commuter rail services in the north continue to face structural constraints not typically seen in the south east. Greengauge 21 Director Jim Steer points to a continued reliance on diesel traction across many northern routes, alongside a lack of four-track railways that allow local stopping services to operate separately from longer-distance intercity trains, a common feature of the south east network.
The evidence in this new study finds some key differences for rail commuters north and south, but interesting similarities too. In both geographies, the study finds that rail lines that are most clearly focused on a ‘metro style’ of service bring higher levels of commuter satisfaction. Merseyrail – serving the Liverpool city region, for example – is one of only three operators north and south able to keep average train lateness down below 2 minutes.
The analysis also underscores the critical role of rail in enabling economic growth. Strengthening the contribution of major cities will depend on rail networks that can support rising demand – providing the capacity and reliability needed to connect people to jobs and opportunities, while easing pressure on already congested road networks.
The lead author of the report was Tony Duckenfield from Beyond Logic Consulting, and you can access it in full here: North vs South – an exploration of the differences in rail service provision
We actively encourage people to use our work, and simply request that the use of any of our material is credited to Greengauge 21 in the following way: Greengauge 21, Title, Date