Press Release
RICHARD BURT
Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate, West Worcestershire
Contact: 07970 713 032 Embargo: Immediate 6th Aug 2007
LIB DEM BOOST FOR COTSWOLD RAIL LINE
The Cotswold line could get a boost from new rail investment proposals launched
by the Liberal Democrats today.
Improvements to signalling, track and services on the Cotswold line to attract
current car users from Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Gloucestershire to the
South East are among the projects listed as worthy of support from a new ‘Future
Transport Fund’ which could deliver an extra £12 billion of investment in the
rail network over the next five years. The Fund is part of radical Liberal
Democrat proposals to move towards a ‘carbon free’ transport system.
West Worcestershire’s Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate, Richard Burt
said:
“This is great news for local rail services. We have been waiting for
improvements to the Cotswold line for a long time.
“Across Britain, more people are travelling on the railways than at any time
since the 1940s – and the network was much larger in those days. Overcrowding is
a big problem in many areas at peak times. This is despite rail fares continuing
to rise in real terms, while the cost of motoring continues to fall.
“The government’s rail white paper last month was vague and unambitious. The
Conservatives have nothing to offer our rail services – it was their botched
privatisation that is largely responsible for the current combination of high
fares and underinvestment.
“By contrast the Liberal Democrat plan announced today would double rail
investment across Britain, not just improving existing services, but providing
new ones, including potential new north-south and east-west lines to the
high-speed standard enjoyed on the continent. And as we expand the network we
would reduce the cost of fares to passengers, getting even more people onto rail
and off the roads, reducing carbon emissions produced from transport
dramatically.
“The Future Transport Fund we propose will provide ring-fenced funding for the
improvements that future generations need if we are to cut our carbon emissions
and tackle climate change.
“We would fund it by introducing a toll on road freight – charged to foreign and
UK hauliers alike – and a charge on internal air flights. Road and air transport
is much more damaging to the environment than trains, and the Liberal Democrats
believe this should be reflected in their relative costs.”
‘Towards Carbon Free Transport’ is a Liberal Democrat spokespersons’ paper which
forms part of wider climate change proposals which will be debated at the
party’s conference in Brighton in September.
Ends.
For further information or comment, please contact Richard Burt on 07970 713032
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