New blow to West Midlands rail network
January 29, 2003 12:00 AM
West Midlands Euro-MP Liz Lynne has slammed today's announcement by the Strategic Rail Authority which has put improvement plans in the West Midlands under threat.
The SRA today announced that it would be freezing its Rail Passenger Partnership fund. This fund is intended to focus resources on projects which would encourage a switch from road to rail use but are commercially unviable without public support.
The announcement has put 26 proposed new services under threat, including plans to extend services to Frankley and Rugeley, and provide 7 new daily services between Birmingham and Stratford-upon-Avon.
Commenting on the announcement, the Liberal Democrat MEP said:
"The government's 10-year transport plan is now in tatters. The public should question why so many projects, originally announced less than a year ago, are already under threat."
"This is only the latest in a triple-whammy against rail passengers, after cutting 100 services from the much vaunted new timetable, and scrapping plans to upgrade the West Coast Main Line which would allow Virgins' new Pendalino trains to travel at their full speed.
"Falsely raising expectations about rail improvements only to quash them will only add to further reliance on the roads. This means more congestion, and more pollution. The government's claim to having an integrated transport strategy is bogus if it fails to take such costs to the economy on board."
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