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Railways strategy outlined to MPs Railways strategy outlined to MPs
(about 1 hour later)
The transport secretary has set out plans to spend billions of pounds to ease overcrowding on trains.The transport secretary has set out plans to spend billions of pounds to ease overcrowding on trains.
Ruth Kelly said £10bn would be invested by 2014 to increase services and make trains longer as she outlined the government's rail strategy to MPs.Ruth Kelly said £10bn would be invested by 2014 to increase services and make trains longer as she outlined the government's rail strategy to MPs.
She said by 2030 she wanted the railway network to carry twice the number of passengers and freight.She said by 2030 she wanted the railway network to carry twice the number of passengers and freight.
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".
Ms Kelly said £600m would be spent on tackling "bottlenecks" at Birmingham and Reading and there would be 1,300 new carriages to ease overcrowding. Ms Kelly said £600m would be spent on tackling "bottlenecks" at Birmingham and Reading and there would be 1,300 new carriages by 2014 to ease overcrowding.
Thameslink planThameslink plan
A £5.5bn north-south cross-London Thameslink project was given the go-ahead and Ms Kelly said by 2014, the aim was that 92.6% of trains would run on time - currently the figure is 88%. A £5.5bn cross London Thameslink project, which will treble the number of stations on that network, was given the go-ahead.
And Ms Kelly said by 2014, the aim was that 92.6% of trains would run on time - currently the figure is 88%.
She told MPs that the government had drawn up "the most ambitious strategy for growth on the railways in over 50 years".She told MPs that the government had drawn up "the most ambitious strategy for growth on the railways in over 50 years".
"Our challenge today is not about managing decline," she said."Our challenge today is not about managing decline," she said.
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"Instead, it's about how we can build on this solid progress to provide a railway that carries more passengers, on more and better trains and on more frequent, reliable, safe and affordable service.""Instead, it's about how we can build on this solid progress to provide a railway that carries more passengers, on more and better trains and on more frequent, reliable, safe and affordable service."
But Ms Kelly warned that the balance in funding between taxpayers and fare payers would return "closer to historic levels".
While government money for the railways will amount to £15.3bn between 2009 and 2014, passenger fares are expected to make up £39.2bn in the same period.While government money for the railways will amount to £15.3bn between 2009 and 2014, passenger fares are expected to make up £39.2bn in the same period.
Ms Kelly also there would be a "radical simplification" of the fares structure with rises in saver fares capped at 1% above inflation.Ms Kelly also there would be a "radical simplification" of the fares structure with rises in saver fares capped at 1% above inflation.
'False dawn''False dawn'
For the Tories, Theresa Villiers said it was another "false dawn" for the £15bn Crossrail scheme - a proposed high-speed rail link from Berkshire to Essex via central London - saying it was "getting more distant by the day".For the Tories, Theresa Villiers said it was another "false dawn" for the £15bn Crossrail scheme - a proposed high-speed rail link from Berkshire to Essex via central London - saying it was "getting more distant by the day".
She added that while Ms Kelly had claimed "real acheivements" overcrowded trains were packed so tight "it would be a criminal offence to transport animals in the same conditions". She added that while Ms Kelly had claimed "real achievements" overcrowded trains were packed so tight "it would be a criminal offence to transport animals in the same conditions".
And Lib Dem transport spokeswoman Susan Kramer said the White Paper was a "missed opportunity" to get people out of cars and planes and onto the railways and suggested most of the money outlined had been announced before.And Lib Dem transport spokeswoman Susan Kramer said the White Paper was a "missed opportunity" to get people out of cars and planes and onto the railways and suggested most of the money outlined had been announced before.
And she said it "seems extraordinary" that the government had not made more mention of Crossrail in the paper.And she said it "seems extraordinary" that the government had not made more mention of Crossrail in the paper.
Ms Kelly said the government was committed to Crossrail and was currently trying to "pin down" private sector funding, to match government funding.Ms Kelly said the government was committed to Crossrail and was currently trying to "pin down" private sector funding, to match government funding.
Key proposals from the White Paper include:
  • £10bn invested by 2014 to increase capacity through more services and longer trains
  • That investment is aimed at providing nearly 100,000 extra seats on inter-city and commuter trains, including 14,500 more seats on Thameslink at rush hour
  • An additional 1,300 train carriages by 2014 - 1,000 of these had already been announced in March
  • The aim is to carry at least 180m more passengers within seven years
  • More than 150 stations are to be upgraded and refurbished at a cost of £150m - London Bridge and Blackfriars stations to be upgraded by 2015 and 2011 respectively.
  • £5.5bn Thameslink modernisation programme approved
  • £425m earmarked for improvements at Reading Station
  • £128m earmarked for improvements at Birmingham New Street station
  • Punctuality target of 92.6% of trains by 2014
  • No closures for rural rail lines
  • Protection remains on regulated fare rises - which must be no more than 1% above the annual rate of inflation
    • 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.
    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%.
    Julia Thomas, of campaign group Transport 2000, told BBC Radio 5 Live that the White Paper was a "major step in the right direction" but she had two main concerns:
    "Firstly those carriages aren't going to be put into place until 2014 so that's a long wait and passenger numbers keep going up," she said.
    "Secondly although they are concentrating on bottle necks like Reading and Birmingham New Street where there are major delays, there are quick gains to be made through signal improvements, looking at time tabling that would help passengers now."