Researchers at Birmingham, Loughborough and Nottingham universities, working with transport bodies, are looking at scenarios 40 years ahead, taking in the social, political, economic and engineering consequences for UK road, rail and air networks. They will focus on the London-Glasgow corridor, where a new high-speed rail link is already planned, but draw out lessons for elsewhere.
The Network Rail report says it “is looking to identify geographical areas that might benefit in some ways from climate change. For example, coastal areas may experience longer, warmer summers, and this may lead to tourism and leisure opportunities and increased demand for rail, and perhaps reusing decommissioned routes or developing new lines, in the longer term. This is something that could be developed in the future with local authorities within their future travel and tourism plans.”
One researcher involved in the project suggested possibilities could include more light rail projects, the addition of new stops on intercity lines and the re-inclusion of popular destinations such as Falmouth on direct routes.
Network Rail, whose infrastructure has struggled with two winters of heavy snow, strikes another optimistic note: fewer cold winter days may also “lead to a more reliable infrastructure and operations and fewer accidents on the railway for staff and passengers… such as a reduction in slips and falls from icy platforms, station entrances and exits, depot access walkways and roads.”
Natural England, meanwhile, sees a possible silver lining for commercial sea fishing – not just from warm water species moving into the North Sea, but also from less carbon-hungry ships, refrigeration of catches and transport, and more selective fishing gear, as the concept of “fish miles” follows that of food miles.
The Committee to Nuke Elysium 