Global InformationEast Coast Main Line Route Utilisation Strategy information
The East Coast Main Line Route Utilisation Strategy (RUS), published by Network Rail in February 2008,[1][2][3] was the seventh RUS.
RUSs are established by the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) unless the latter objects within 60 days. A letter formally confirming establishment, but with some qualifications, was sent by ORR to NR in April 2008,[4] and the RUS is included in NR's map as established.[5]
The scope includes the whole of Strategic Route 8 - East Coast Main Line[6] and Route 9 - North East Routes,[7] and part of Route 5 (the Hitchin-Cambridge line). Not strictly within the scope but relevant to the service mix forming present and future utilisation of the RUS area are parts of Route 11 (to Sheffield and to Lincoln, and the diversionary joint GN/GE route from Peterborough to Doncaster via Lincoln), Route 10 (to Hull and to Bradford) and Route 24 (to Aberdeen).
As with other RUSs, the ECMLRUS took into account a number of responses,[8][9] including the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR).[10]
The routes and services covered by the RUS are varied in type. At the London end and in the vicinity of other major cities are inner suburban and metro-like services, which are vital commuter routes; across the RUS area there are cross-country and fast medium-distance passenger services, including inter-city services; there are long-distance (and in the British context very long distance) high-speed passenger services (LDHS) from London to a number of major cities in Scotland and northern England; and there are significant freight flows that use part of the area. A number of issues arise from the mix and intensity of these services, and the RUS addresses these in 10 groups.
Some issues are closely related to other RUSs: Scotland RUS (Edinburgh Waverley station and Portobello junction); Freight RUS.
Some issues were passed to later RUSs: Lancashire & Cumbria[11] Yorkshire & Humber (Y&H RUS),[12] the Network RUS, West Coast Main Line (WCML).[13]
The RUS needs to be seen against existing contingent and prospective schemes, especially against the Thameslink project, which will see a step-change in services continuing through central London onto the network south of London. The timing of some interventions identified in the RUS are dependent on certain works in this programme being brought forward.[citation needed]
- ^ East Coast main Line RUS
- ^ ATOC press release on ECMLRUS
- ^ London Connections appraisal
- ^ "ORR letter to Network Rail confirming establishment" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 March 2009. Retrieved 14 April 2009.
- ^ Network Rail RUS Programme and Map
- ^ Route 8 - East Coast Main Line
- ^ "Route 9 - North East Routes" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 June 2011. Retrieved 14 April 2009.
- ^ "London TravelWatch response to consultation". Archived from the original on 14 October 2007. Retrieved 14 April 2009.
- ^ Rail Freight Group response to consultation
- ^ "ORR's response to consultation" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 December 2007. Retrieved 14 April 2009.
- ^ "Lancashire & Cumbria RUS" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 June 2011. Retrieved 14 April 2009.
- ^ "Yorkshire & Humber RUS" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 March 2009. Retrieved 14 April 2009.
- ^ "West Coast Main Line RUS Scoping document, section 4.4.2 p.6" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 June 2011. Retrieved 14 April 2009.