What's the Fuss About Essex-Kent Superlinks?
The Transport Action Network (TAN) has put forward a bold proposal to transform regional travel in the UK by scrapping the hefty £10 billion Lower Thames Crossing plan. Instead, they're touting the Essex-Kent Superlinks, a package that promises robust rail and ferry services at a significantly lower cost of £2.5 billion. This initiative aims to modernize the way people and goods move between Essex and Kent, focusing on rail enhancements to make passenger journeys more efficient and freight transport more competitive.
The Essex-Kent Superlinks hinges on several key pillars. It proposes a new rail link that connects West Thurrock in Essex to Dartford and Greenhithe in Kent, potentially facilitating 50 to 100 million passenger trips each year. The project also targets freight by proposing comprehensive upgrades to existing rail infrastructure, a change that can slash road congestion by removing between 550,000 and 1.1 million lorry trips. Pretty significant, right?
Backing and Criticism: Clash of Visions
ASLEF, the train drivers’ union, has thrown its weight behind the Essex-Kent Superlinks. They argue that boosting rail freight infrastructure could bring about a more level playing field, reducing bottlenecks on UK roads, which are all too common these days. Simon Weller, Assistant General Secretary at ASLEF, emphasizes that an over-reliance on road projects like the Lower Thames Crossing doesn’t do any favors for domestic rail freight—which, he notes, could lose out to international hauliers.
Chris Todd from TAN isn't pulling punches either. He has labeled the Lower Thames Crossing as a 'costly dinosaur of a plan,' urging the government to reevaluate its approach to tackling congestion and environmental issues. TAN's report suggests that the government is stuck in the past, relying too heavily on road expansion while ignoring promising, eco-friendly alternatives.
The Essex-Kent Superlinks plan doesn’t stop at just trains. It also introduces new ferry services linking Grays and Greenhithe, as well as Tilbury and Gravesend. The added ferry routes are expected to ease both commuter and commercial traffic. Not to mention, there's support for the KenEx tram, which would link Grays directly to Ebbsfleet International, stimulating smoother transit for shoppers heading to places like Bluewater.
As the debate intensifies, the clock is ticking. The Development Consent Order for the Lower Thames Crossing is set for a decision by May 23, 2025. Construction could start as soon as 2026. But the voices against it are growing louder, pushing for parliamentary interrogation of the alternatives before greenlighting the project. For now, it’s a waiting game to see if modern, sustainable solutions will take precedence over traditional road-centric plans.
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