Colin Morris misrepresents Chiltern Railways’ Evergreen 3 project as “unaffordable” (ViewPoints, November 12).
Actually railways are exceptional value for the economy. The UK cannot afford not to invest in new railways.
A 2007 report for engineering group Invensys found that the same sum of capital creates almost three times as many jobs in the wider economy if invested in Rail projects rather than roads.
Mr Morris misrepresents Evergreen 3 as planning only a quarter mile of new track.
In fact it would replace and accelerate 11 miles of track between Bicester and Oxford, and increase 10 of those miles to double track.
Mr Morris misrepresents Chiltern Railways as planning Evergreen 3 primarily to profit from commuters who now use First Great Western.
Actually GW main line traffic has grown so much in 15 years that it is near saturation.
Homeward rail commuters from Paddington who cannot get a seat until they pass Slough or Reading deserve an alternative rail service from Marylebone with more seats.
Mr Morris misrepresents Evergreen 3 as diverting capital that would then be unavailable to extend the East West Rail link to Milton Keynes, Aylesbury and Bedford.
In fact funding is from a completely different source. In the current recession, Evergreen 3’s help for EWR is invaluable.
Thousands of Bicester residents who work in Oxford need a fast, reliable alternative to queuing on the A34. Evergreen 3 would also reduce M40 traffic and congestion. Chiltern’s intention to complete the project by 2013 is great news.
Hugh Jaeger, Railfuture Thames Valley Branch
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