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| Rail upgrade plans to be outlined | |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| The government is expected to announce plans to spend billions of pounds to remove bottlenecks on the rail network. | The government is expected to announce plans to spend billions of pounds to remove bottlenecks on the rail network. |
| Measures to increase capacity to cope with growing passenger numbers are also set to be in a White Paper unveiled by new Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly. | Measures to increase capacity to cope with growing passenger numbers are also set to be in a White Paper unveiled by new Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly. |
| There are likely to be details of 1,300 new carriages on the network - 300 more than first announced earlier this year. | There are likely to be details of 1,300 new carriages on the network - 300 more than first announced earlier this year. |
| The Tories dismissed the White Paper as containing "reheated announcements that are years later than promised". | The Tories dismissed the White Paper as containing "reheated announcements that are years later than promised". |
| Station improvements | Station improvements |
| Planned improvements to Birmingham New Street, Reading station and London's Thameslink route are also expected in the government's plans. | Planned improvements to Birmingham New Street, Reading station and London's Thameslink route are also expected in the government's plans. |
| It is set to give the go-ahead for the delayed £3.5bn upgrade of the crowded cross-London line. | It is set to give the go-ahead for the delayed £3.5bn upgrade of the crowded cross-London line. |
| Ms Kelly may announce that the limit on rises for advance saver fares of 1% above inflation will be removed. | Ms Kelly may announce that the limit on rises for advance saver fares of 1% above inflation will be removed. |
| Platform extensions, longer trains and the possible reopening of disused lines could also feature in the White Paper. | Platform extensions, longer trains and the possible reopening of disused lines could also feature in the White Paper. |
| Although the punctuality of trains has improved overcrowding is still a problem. | Although the punctuality of trains has improved overcrowding is still a problem. |
| George Muir, director-general of the Association of Train Operating Companies, described the proposals as the "first plausible plan for expanding the railway" in recent years. | George Muir, director-general of the Association of Train Operating Companies, described the proposals as the "first plausible plan for expanding the railway" in recent years. |
| He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the funding for longer trains could be expected to come from growing passenger revenues, with government support needed for many of the other planned improvements. | He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the funding for longer trains could be expected to come from growing passenger revenues, with government support needed for many of the other planned improvements. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY Proper investment in high speed rail links would minimise the need for internal flights Kay, Liverpool Send us your comments | |
| But passenger groups have been angered that some train companies have raised off-peak prices by up to 20%, and the system of franchising routes has come under criticism. | But passenger groups have been angered that some train companies have raised off-peak prices by up to 20%, and the system of franchising routes has come under criticism. |
| Bob Crow, general secretary of the RMT union, said passengers were "already paying through the nose to subsidise the profit habits of fat-cat franchisees and train-leasing companies". | Bob Crow, general secretary of the RMT union, said passengers were "already paying through the nose to subsidise the profit habits of fat-cat franchisees and train-leasing companies". |
| 'Most overcrowded | 'Most overcrowded |
| BBC transport correspondent Tom Symonds says the announcement may disappoint those hoping for bigger thinking on the future of the railways, such as plans for a new high-speed rail link between London and Scotland. | BBC transport correspondent Tom Symonds says the announcement may disappoint those hoping for bigger thinking on the future of the railways, such as plans for a new high-speed rail link between London and Scotland. |
| Brian Cooke, chairman of London TravelWatch, which represents the interests of passengers, said extra capacity was urgently needed in the capital. | Brian Cooke, chairman of London TravelWatch, which represents the interests of passengers, said extra capacity was urgently needed in the capital. |
| This government has broken so many transport promises in the past, why should anyone believe them now Theresa VilliersShadow transport secretary | This government has broken so many transport promises in the past, why should anyone believe them now Theresa VilliersShadow transport secretary |
| "Over 70% of all national rail journeys are to, or through, London. London's rail travellers pay the highest fares and London's train operators are paying the highest premiums to the government for running train services," he said. | "Over 70% of all national rail journeys are to, or through, London. London's rail travellers pay the highest fares and London's train operators are paying the highest premiums to the government for running train services," he said. |
| "London's train services are the most overcrowded, with use of rail in London growing much faster than projected." | "London's train services are the most overcrowded, with use of rail in London growing much faster than projected." |
| Shadow Transport Secretary Theresa Villiers said nothing had changed under the new prime minister, Gordon Brown. | Shadow Transport Secretary Theresa Villiers said nothing had changed under the new prime minister, Gordon Brown. |
| "There'll be a lot of hype and spin about the future of the railways to disguise a series of reheated announcements that are years later than promised," she said. | "There'll be a lot of hype and spin about the future of the railways to disguise a series of reheated announcements that are years later than promised," she said. |
| "If they do announce progress on the Thameslink 2000 of course that would be welcome but the project is already 7 years late. | "If they do announce progress on the Thameslink 2000 of course that would be welcome but the project is already 7 years late. |
| "This government has broken so many transport promises in the past, why should anyone believe them now?" | "This government has broken so many transport promises in the past, why should anyone believe them now?" |