OPTIMUM ALLOCATION OF NATIONAL RESOURCES. THE CASE FOR THE CROSS-LONDON RAIL TUNNEL

This paper discusses the resource allocation issues which provide the context for major investment funding proposals by British rail, and examines the economic assumptions made in the "Cross London Rail Link" report. To maintain comparability in forecasting procedures between road and rail schemes, the signals forecasting system was developed. Signals had the following elements: (1) growth in overall traffic levels; (2) service sensitive traffic generation model; and (3) modal choice model. Results are presented and the response of the government to the Cross-London Rail Link feasibility study is discussed. (TRRL)