New or Improved Rail Lines - Evaluation Case Studies of Local Economic Impacts

This document summarizes an evaluation of the economic impacts of rail line improvements in Falmouth, Cornwall, focusing on the Maritime Line and comparing it to Gunnislake. The study aimed to assess the effects of a 2009 rail service improvement on rail trips, area attractiveness, and business productivity. The evaluation used socio-demographic analysis, station usage trends, and surveys on travel behavior and business impacts. Results showed increased local rail patronage, especially for leisure trips, and some positive effects on tourism, but limited evidence of productivity uplift in the local economy. The study concluded that while rail investments have had some positive economic impacts, further investments may have diminishing returns, and the direct impact on employment and productivity is less clear. The importance of rail services for tourists and in business operations was highlighted, but the study also noted the challenges in generalizing results and the need for contextual data to isolate rail investment effects from broader economic trends. **This summary was written by an AI model and therefore should not be considered a definitive summary of the report. If you are aware of inaccuracies, please email evaluation.registry@cabinetoffice.gov.uk.**

Description

• Lead department: Department for Transport (DfT)
• Evaluation stage: A complete evaluation report
• Other departments: No other departments listed
• Evaluation types: Value for money evaluation; Impact evaluation
• Impact methods: Quasi-experimental method
• Quasi-experimental methods: Difference-in-difference
• Value for money methods: Other
• Grant information: This intervention is not distributing funding via a grant
• Government Major Project information: This intervention is not a major project
• Policies: No policies provided

Event Dates

• Event Name: Publication of final results
• Event date: January 2018

Evaluation Costs

• Cost: Not provided

Evaluation sharing

• Link(s) to published report(s): Yes
• Links to evaluation plans: No link provided
• Findings: Not provided
• Permission to share confirmed: Yes