More seats on more and longer trains form part of a plan for growth on the East Coast Main Line and North East routes, Network Rail announced today.

The plan, outlined in the Route Utilisation Strategy (RUS) for the East Coast Main Line (ECML), seeks to meet the growing demands for the line and accommodate the continuing rise in passenger numbers – which could increase by 40% by 2016 on long distance services - while making journeys more reliable

The RUS sets out a number of recommendations, and follows a 12 week consultation period with key stakeholders after the draft strategy was first launched in June last year.

Highlights of the strategy include:
* Increasing the number of long distance trains from King’s Cross to eight trains per hour at peak times, and six services per hour off-peak allowing faster journeys to the principal destinations in Yorkshire, the North East and Scotland.
* Redevelopment at King’s Cross, coupled with the completion of the Thameslink upgrade will increase capacity once both schemes are completed.
* Power upgrades to facilitate extra and longer services.
* Boosting capacity between Peterborough and Doncaster by upgrading the parallel route through Lincoln.
* A number of other infrastructure schemes to improve capacity, performance and journey times for passengers and freight.

Network Rail’s Route Director, Dyan Crowther, said: "This strategy sets out how we will make the necessary investment to improve reliability while meeting the demands of rising passenger numbers and freight growth over the coming years.” The RUS was drawn up in consultation with a number of rail industry stakeholders including train and freight operators, passenger groups, local authorities and regional investment authorities. The publication of this strategy is another milestone for this thriving line,” Dyan Crowther added. “I thank those who made a valuable contribution in the formation of this strategy as part of the consultation process.”

The ECML is one of the busiest railway lines in Britain, providing a vital north-south link for long distance services from London to Scotland via Yorkshire and Newcastle, as well as serving important commuter routes into London, Leeds, Newcastle and Edinburgh.

It is also vital a freight route, particularly as it links a number of major ports to distribution centres and power stations across the country.

Notes:
Route Utilisation Strategies seek to balance capacity, passenger and freight demand, operational performance and cost, to address the requirements of funding bodies and stakeholders. Network Rail will take account of the recommendations outlined in a RUS when carrying out its activities to improve, maintain and manage the railway. In particular, the strategies will be used to inform the allocation of capacity on the network through application of the normal Network Code processes.

Recommendations in detail:
Long-distance routes:
• New Intercity Express trains will be introduced (pre-series trains in 2012), offering more capacity, quicker acceleration and shorter braking distances.
• Repeating standard hourly or two-hourly timetable
• Capacity at King’s Cross will be increased as part of the station’s major redevelopment due for completion in 2012.
• Upgrading the south-bound line between Alexandra Palace and Finsbury Park to increase capacity
• Major upgrades to add more diversionary routes will increase capacity and offer viable alternative routes while the main line is upgraded. The diversionary routes to be improved include the Hertford Loop and Peterborough to Doncaster via Lincoln
• Peterborough station will also be improved with a new platform separating East Anglia services and north-bound long-distance trains

London and South East routes:
• Extension of all inner-suburban peak services to six carriages
• Extend inner-suburban services into King's Cross north of Welwyn Garden City providing more outer-suburban peak services
• Progressive implementation of 12-car outer-suburban peak services
• ECML suburban services will also be able to use the Thameslink route once the programme is fully completed by 2016, freeing up capacity at King’s Cross

York, Newcastle, Tyne and Tees, Edinburgh:
• Improvements to the regularity of services
• Increasing peak capacity into Middlesbrough and Newcastle by lengthening trains
• Shorter journey times to and from London

Yorkshire and Humberside RUS
Network Rail will be developing a similar strategy for Yorkshire and Humberside, a draft of which is due to be published for consultation later this year.

Freight services:
• Routes connecting Peterborough with East Anglian ports and the West Midlands will be upgraded. Structures such as bridges and tunnels above the railway will continue to be enlarged enabling freight trains to carry larger standard containers on standard-height wagons.
• The upgrade of routes via Hertford and Lincoln, as well as exploring other route upgrades to provide flexible capacity for strong freight growth
• Upgrading Shaftholme Junction to increase capacity north of Doncaster