Towards a Sustainable Transport System, published in October 2007, confirmed the Government's commitment to a transport policy which delivers economic growth and lower carbon emissions. It summarises the policy and investment plans over the period to 2014; and describes how the Government will implement a new approach to strategic transport planning for the period 2014-19 and beyond:
- Investment to reduce crowding around major cities by ordering 1,300 new carriages between now and 2014;
- Significant new infrastructure, for example at Reading and Birmingham New Street stations;
- The Thameslink project completed by 2015;
- Investigation into transformation of the rail network around Manchester to unlock economic power and address long-term capacity issues;
- £16 billion Crossrail project.
Delivering a Sustainable Railway, a White Paper published in July 2007, fulfils the remit the Government set itself in 2005, to provide strategic direction for the rail industry. It outlines three long-term agendas for the Government and the rail industry working in partnership:
- Increasing the capacity of the railway;
- Delivering a quality services for passengers;
- Fulfilling rail’s environmental potential.
The White Paper also contains the HLOS (High Level Output Specification) and SoFA (Statement of Funds Available), setting out public expenditure and safety, reliability and capacity targets from 1 April 2009 to 31 March 2012. It also examines potential future challenges for the railway over a 30-year horizon, stating: “The public as a whole wants a railway that contributes to economic growth and helps us meet the environmental challenges ahead”.