A FAST train link to run along the central reservation of the M6 through Lancaster could be the future of traffic jam free travel, according to engineering experts. The motorway railway route for the M6 is the brainchild of boffins at Liverpool John Moores University and has been tentatively embraced by transport secretary John Prescott. It would avoid cutting through swathes of countryside and significantly reduce travel times between the North and South with train speeds of up to 200mph.

The man who led the 40-man team of engineers, Prof Lewis Lesley, said they found that most stretches of motorway already had enough space for a twin track railway line in the central reservation.

But members of North Lancashire's Transport 2000, a pressure group fighting to reduce traffic congestion, questioned the scheme's safety. Spokesman Pascal Desmond told the Citizen: "There are worries about the safety of this proposal - many motorway traffic accidents compromise the integrity of the central reservation.

"Where there are bridges it will involve taking space from the existing motorway, thus narrowing the existing lanes and increasing the risk of accidents."

But the plans would be a welcome boost to the neglected west coast main line which is now in the hands of Richard Branson's Virgin Group. Virgin are currently inviting bids for a £750 million contract to build tilt trains to run at speeds of 150mph. In the long term the motorway trains could take passengers from the west coast main line leaving more space for freight.

Meanwhile Transport 2000 say it will do little to solve local traffic problems. "It will do nothing to relieve congestion in Lancaster and Morecambe. It will not improve public transport times locally. It will not improve conditions for pedestrians and will be an extra source of noise," Pascal added.

an artist's impression of how the scheme would operate

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.