Community Rail Projects Should Look to International Funding, Say UK Officials

Community rail projects in the UK should look to international sources of funding to grow their networks, according to officials speaking at the Future of Community Rail Conference in London.

The rail industry needs to engage with a wider range of organisations, including overseas bodies to secure funding, said John French, director of Transport Regeneration, which develops and secures funding for rail partnership schemes.

"Community rail projects often fail to look past traditional sources of funding for projects," he said. "European funding is an option for the right projects but it is an avenue which is often thought of as being too complicated or bureaucratic."

Rail projects anywhere in the UK are eligible for European funding especially if the project is transnational or shows good innovation, French added.

"Many EU states struggle with their rural rail networks. Partnering with international organisations could not only provide the necessary funding, but provide an opportunity to share knowledge."

Rail projects are much more likely to be fundable if they show a wider range of benefits than just transport. These benefits can include social inclusion, environmental benefits, tourism, health benefits, regeneration opportunities and economic benefits.

Shadow Minister for Transport Stephen Hammond said that the growth in ridership on community rail was hard evidence that these networks should be invested in.

"Community rail has the opportunity to address a range of issues broader than just transport and we should be willing to form any partnerships which encourage progress in this area," he said.

The projected European funding on Trans European Networks between 2007 and 2013 is expected to be €20bn. Research and development on European lines is expected to reach €4.2bn and regional development of community lines in the UK is predicted to reach €9.4bn over the same period.

By Daniel Garrun