UCR calls for a strategic transport network
THE Government published the final version of its Union Connectivity Review at the end of November, which recommends that investment be concentrated on a number of passenger and freight corridors to bring greater cohesion between the four countries of the UK.
Under the title of ‘UKNET’, the corridors form the basis for future network planning, when funding will be given to projects that have UK-wide benefits and improve union connectivity. The review acknowledges that further home working could reduce passenger demand in individual conurbations, but UKNET is seen as mostly focused on longer distance inter-city and inter-regional travel. Most commuter trips are either within cities or accessing cities from satellite towns, but there are examples of shorter distance, cross-border connections – such as travel between North Wales and North West England, and from South East Wales to the Greater Bristol area.
The review also says
