MR T wrote:
The problem here is that there is massive expansion taking place in Liverpool docks which are in Sefton, and Peel Ports who own them are pushing for more access to the docks from the end of the M57 and M58 straight through to the docks. One option is to build a new dual carriageway through a section of land which has been created over 30 years into a country park called Rimrose Valley, which creates a very large area of green space with lots of fresh air for the people of Seaforth, Crosby and Litherland through to Thornton. A place to walk dogs, and let children ride their bikes and to see the wildlife living there.
Or, widening the existing road, (Dunningsbridge Rd. Church Rd) to the docks, to increase traffic flow from 23,000 to 33,000 vehicles per day - their estimate - . This route goes past primary and secondary schools, through residential areas, which already has been identified as one of the most polluted routes in Sefton.
Sefton has asked them to come up with other options such as electric trains going into the docks, bearing in mind disused railway lines are mostly still in place, or a tunnel, but the answer seems to be a flat NO. The feeling in Liverpool is that if we were applying for a tunnel to be built down South then funds would be made available, but as we are in the North then the health and wellbeing of the people of Sefton appear to have no value, unlike putting a tunnel at Stonehenge so nothing detracts from its unique beauty, is more important than the lives of the children of Sefton. Putting a traffic charge on the main route through might just upset their plans. There is more I could say but I won't at the moment.
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/201 ... -publishednetwork rail would be against adding more freight to the network because it interferes with the running of passenger trains and causes delay repay
although i believe trains serve the bulk terminal and the container terminals (or is that Garston ?) BUT doesn't it run along a road in part which would be awkward for electrification
The railways have pushed huge volumes onto the roads over the last 30 years to make way for speeded up passenger services so road haulage for freight to and from the docks is the most realistic option albeit not the most environmentally friendly one
railways are certainly far less polluting even diesel hauled
The other thing is before they built the bulk terminal and the new deep water container port why wasn't all this sorted out then not now the traffic is flowing through the port