London Banter - View Single Post - Why can we never get anything built around here?

Paul Terry · May 23rd 06, 04:15 PM posted to uk.transport.london

In message .com,
writes

I'm curious - is there some institutional or legal reason why it's so
hard to get new transport built in London?

The Parisians seem to manage it easily enough.

There is an entirely different philosophy towards public transport in
France. State funding is virtually guaranteed for big infrastructure
projects, and is supported by almost draconian compulsory purchase
powers and other legal powers to ensure that work proceeds quickly.

RATP is responsible for much of the transport system around Paris, and
is essentially a government agency. In addition to a high level of
public subsidy at a national level, there is a long tradition of
required contributions from those expected to benefit from better
transport (businesses and local people, via regional authorities).

Its an altogether different system - it works well in a country that has
had a couple of centuries of very centralised political control, but its
perhaps not a system that would be politically acceptable in the UK.

Also, the Paris situation is not all that marvellous - Line 14 was the
first new metro line since the 1930s and is relatively short. There has
been good investment in modernising the system, though, and the RER has
brought welcome improvements.

--
Paul Terry