Transport Watch UK Focusing on UK's Traffic & Traffic Systems
 
Transport Policy
Did the 10-year plan make any sense?
Road vs Rail
Which transport system can effective move the most passengers at the least cost?
Community Rail
A Transport-Watch note Essential reading for decision makers and transport correspondents
Disused railways
View a UK map of disused railways and derelict railway land.
The Transport-Watch Advert
Transport Watch prints adverts in several prominent magazines - see the advert and the reaction.
The Case for Rail by Railfuture
Transport Watch shows the holes in the argument for Rail by Railfuture.
Historic quotes compiled by the Railway Conversion league in 1974
Produced by the Railway Conversion League in 1974, is as apt today as it was 30 years ago.
Rapid Transit Systems
In highway terms, rail rapid transport systems are so lightly loaded as to be substantially disused.
Road Junctions
Junction design and traffic management are fundamental to the smooth flow of traffic.
Congestion Charge
Is there any other way of allocating scarce road space except by queuing?
Car Sharing
What are the benefits of car sharing and is it a practical solution?
Speed Cameras
The Government says 30% of road accidents are attributable to "excessive speed". That turns out to be a misrepresentation by a factor of up to 10.
Air Transport
Transport Watch canvasses for three areas of research...
University Research
Transport Watch will sponsor and encourage research into transport issues at a range of universities.
London's rail network
London - A map and a few words
Conversions
- Options and Illustrations
High Speed Rail
Railway people lobby hard for High-Speed Rail. Here are some of our responses.
Transport Committee (House of Commons)
Transport Watch has submitted memoranda to the following Transport Committee inquiries.
Have fun with the railway lobby group, Transport 2000
Completely off the rails? The man who would turn railway lines into a coach network
Train Delays
A Record of train delays...
Climate Change
General Discussion ...
Railway Lunatics
Devoted to throwing mud pies
Snippets to the Times
Sample of letters sent to The Times by Transport-watch
Nata Refresh Consultation
(Nata is the DfT’s “New Approach to Transport Appraisal”)
Letters to:
Local Transport Today and the New Civil Engineer
Letters to MP's:
Sample letters to MP's...
Transport Committee of the House of Commons:
We have given written evidence to the following inquires...
Time to Change Gear:
This note is in response to the CBI paper with the above title published in February 2009...
Welcome to Transport Watch UK

Transwatch is an independent organisation not connected with any business, organisation or political party initially funded by a private trust and dedicated to making the best use of land already committed to transport in the interests of the community as a whole.

Director Paul F Withrington BSc MSc MICE CEng
Formerly project manager Transport Planning Northamptonshire County Council

Contact address: 12 Redland Drive Northampton NN2 8QE
Phone: 01604 847438
Fax: 01604 455074

We are to support research at universities and welcome factual comment and discussion.

Who should be interested in this website?

This site aims to be as factual as possible. Hence the data will be of particular interest to people considering investment in transport systems and those responsible for transport policy generally. Tax payers will also find the site revealing particularly with regard to rail.

For contents see site map

News and Updates

  1. Sample letters to MPs - Updated December 2009
  2. Railway Lunatics - Updated November 2009
  3. The waverley/borders line Scotland - November 2009
  4. Dr David MacKay: Sustainable Energy without the hot air - November 2009
  5. Junction Design - updated November 2009
  6. Snippets to the Times - updated October 2009
  7. Greengauge 21 - Topic 17a added October 2009
  8. Factsheet 5 updated July 2009
  9. Factsheet 5b updated July 2009
  10. Factsheet 5c updated July 2009
  11. Adelaide to Darwin - New topic July 2009
  12. French Railways - New topic July 2009
  13. NATA NONSENSE AND CROSSRAIL - new June 2009
  14. Snippets to the Times - updated June 2009
  15. Local Transport Today - updated June 2009
  16. Sample Letters to MPs - updated June 2009
  17. Damage to road safety - updated June 2009
  18. Facts sheet 1 - updated April 2009
  19. Facts sheet 5(b) - Preamble added April 2009
  20. The Case for rail by Rail future has been updated March 2009
  21. Casualty rates by road and rail compared - Factsheet 2 updated March 2009
  22. Facts sheet 3: Widths and headroom - updated March 2009
  23. Fact sheet 5c Electric cars
  24. See new topic 'Sample Letters to MP's'
  25. See new topic 'Letters to Local Transport Today and the New Civil Engineer'
  • See the Transport Watch Advert as placed in Private Eye, The Week and The New Statesman, December 2004 - February 2005. (click here to see it)
  • See our rebuttal of the "Forensic Demolition" of the advert by Rail Forum Director General, Adrian Lyons and Managing Editor, Nigel Harris in the Rail Magazine.
  • See the complaint to the Adverting Standards Authority by Rail Future and Railway Forum along with our response.
  • See The Case for Rail Demolished.
  • See the new section on Rural Rail
  • See the update to speed cameras
  • There is some additional data in Facts Sheet 2 - Rows 4(a), 6(a) and 6(b) of the tabulation.

    • Train Delays

    DELAYS 5 DAYS COMMENCING MONDAY 15th JANUARY 2007 - N/A

    DELAYS 5 DAYS COMMENCING MONDAY 22nd JANUARY 2007

    DELAYS 5 DAYS COMMENCING MONDAY 15th JANUARY 2007

    DELAYS 5 DAYS COMMENCING MONDAY 8th JANUARY 2007

    DELAYS 5 DAYS COMMENCING MONDAY 1st JANUARY 2007

    DELAYS 5 DAYS COMMENCING MONDAY 25th DECEMBER 2006

    DELAYS 5 DAYS COMMENCING MONDAY 18th DECEMBER 2006

    DELAYS 5 DAYS COMMENCING MONDAY 11th DECEMBER 2006

    DELAYS 5 DAYS COMMENCING MONDAY 4th DECEMBER 2006

    DELAYS 5 DAYS COMMENCING MONDAY 27th NOVEMBER 2006

    DELAYS 5 DAYS COMMENCING MONDAY 20th NOVEMBER 2006

    DELAYS 5 DAYS COMMENCING MONDAY 13th NOVEMBER 2006

    DELAYS 5 DAYS COMMENCING MONDAY 6th NOVEMBER 2006
     
    The Facts Road vs Rail

    Which transport system can effectively move the most passengers at the least cost?
    Fact Sheet 1: Flow, density of use and capacity
    Fact Sheet 2: Casualty rates and costs.
    Fact Sheet 3: Widths and headroom. (Are they too narrow)?.
    Fact Sheet 4: Subsidy to Rail and profits for roads.
    Fact Sheet 5: Fuel and emissions: Trains compared with replacement express coaches and lorries.
    Fact Sheet 5b: Carbon emissions: high speed rail and air compared
    Fact Sheet 5c: Electric cars
    Fact Sheet 6: Cost escalation for railway projects in the UK.
    Fact Sheet 7: Track costs.
    Fact Sheet 8: Track maintenance costs.
    Fact Sheet 9: Passenger Rolling Stock costs.
    Fact Sheet 10: Rail safety costs, value for money?
    Fact Sheet 11: Journey Length distributions / Speed and fares.
    Fact Sheet 12: Costs of conversion and rates of return.
    West Coast Main Line Modernisation Inquiry - Closing Statement by P Withrington
    West Coast Main Line Modernisation Inquiry - Closing Statement by Railtrack
    Express your opinion
    Visit our public forum and let us know what you think about any of the topics on this site.
    © Transport Watch UK 2003