Route&Branch: HITRANS Rail Development Strategy

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Route and Branch: HITRANS Rail Development Strategy Overview HITRANS is seeking a suitably qualified consultant to produce a Rail Development Strategy for the Highlands and Islands. This strategy will be designed to be a blueprint for the next 20 years, taking the region to Net Zero 2045. A budget of GBP50k ex VAT is available. Lot 1: Route and Branch: HITRANS Rail Development Strategy Overview HITRANS is seeking a suitably qualified consultant to produce a Rail Development Strategy for the Highlands and Islands. This strategy will be designed to be a blueprint for the next 20 years, taking the region to Net Zero 2045. A budget of GBP 50k ex VAT is available. Background In 2006 HITRANS, HIE and Highland Rail Partnership funded Room for Growth, a major report making the case for rail development in the HITRANS area. This led to two STPR1 projects being taken forward: Highland Main Line and Aberdeen-Inverness, although both have not been delivered as planned. Now with the HITRANS Regional Transport Strategy 2025 in place, the focus moves to each mode and the response to the NZ challenge. All Change Since 2014 a number of significant changes have occurred, including: -the establishment of Scotland’s Railway bringing Network Rail Scotland and ScotRail into an alliance -changed travel behaviour as a result of Covid -the nationalisation of ScotRail and Caledonian Sleepers -the nationalisation of LNER -the drive to Net Zero 2045 -the 20% vehicle miles reduction target -the Rail Decarbonisation Action Plan -rail freight growth targets from DfT and Scottish Government -the establishment of Community Rail Partnerships -the creation of Scottish Rail Holdings -Far North Line Review Team and West Highland Line Review Group -Request to Stop -Inverness Airport Station -Inverness and Cromarty Forth Green Freeport -Inverness Station Masterplan -Fort William 2040 With the finalisation of our 2024 Regional Transport Strategy, it is now time to create a rail-specific daughter document to our RTS. Drivers of Change There are a number of key drivers that will result in changes to our rail network: -the refreshed Decarbonisation Action Plan -rolling stock replacement programme -STPR2 -fares reform and ticketing developments -focus on resilience impacted by climate change -Rail Reform and Great British Railways -signalling renewals -tourism trends -energy developments Route and Branch The study will identify shortcomings in our network and identify areas for development so that the railway plays its role in the move to Net Zero. Key to this will be decarbonised rolling stock and efficient freight on rail. We will work with colleagues at Nestrans, Tactran and SPT where we have overlapping interests. It will focus on: -electrification and alternative traction -journey time -frequency -scheduling -route capacity -route capability -terminal and depot capacity -integration with other modes -new station opportunities -accessibility -rail freight -resilience -traincrew deployment -open access operations and also consider policy areas such as rail devolution to a sub-regional level.