London Banter - View Single Post - Chris Grayling gives backing to Crossrail 2

Robin9 · July 27th 17, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Recliner[_3_]

tim... wrote:

"Recliner" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 26 Jul 2017 10:43:04 +0100, "tim..."
wrote:

d wrote in message news On Wed, 26 Jul 2017 02:00:37 -0000 (UTC)
Recliner wrote:
wrote:
In article
nal-septembe
r.org, (Recliner) wrote:

wrote:

I think a lot of the Tyne & Wear Metro improvements are
locally funded too.

What improvements?

The ones currently under way.

So do they include new network extensions, new stations or new stock, as
Manchester Metrolink has repeatedly enjoyed?

Not sure there's anywhere left to extend it to that doesn't involve new
track
or tunneling and that won't happen because its not london. Even as a
londoner
I think the disparity between the investment the capital gets in
transport
infrastructure and what other cities get is a disgrace.

the problem is that London's spend is skewed by the huge number of people
that it has to provide transport for, who don't actually live there

True, but London taxpayers also contribute heavily to the transport
costs in Wales, Scotland and the North of England.

I find it hard to believe that operating subsidy reaches close to London's
CapEx advantages

You may be right: I've not seen a proper analysis. I suppose the issue is
that London is much more dependent on public transport, particularly rail,
than the much smaller northern cities. And London generates a huge tax
surplus, which funds projects everywhere else.

Also, while London gets a lot of rail investment, it sees few new roads; in
other cities, I seem to see a lot of new roads.

In London, money is only spent on roads to make them less fit for
purpose.