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The Infrastructure Podcast: Episode 10
Guest: Beth West, Chief Executive, East West Rail
Creating infrastructure fit for the future
While the UK government continues to warn of “significant headwinds” holding back the economy, and despite recent delays to the investment plans for a number for key projects including HS2 and the Lower Thames Crossing, it remains clear that investment in new infrastructure is still a fundamental par to the so-called “plan for growth”.
But critically, it is now clear that investment in infrastructure has to deliver more than just economic benefits; to be fit for the future and investable for the public and private sector, today’s projects must also deliver social benefits in the form of reduced carbon emissions, greater social inclusion and equity and of course employment and community cohesion.
Beth West is chief executive of the new East West Rail project between Oxford and Cambridge is one such project aiming to create a transport system fit for the future. The project combines a number of inter-related elements designed to maximise the use of existing infrastructure, reinstate disused corridors and introducing new assets to create new links.