Archived press release

A strategic plan for rail?

14 January 2002

SRA STRATEGIC PLAN

Where's the Money Coming From?

The Strategic Rail Authority's Strategic Plan could fail without much greater financial support from the Government, Friends of the Earth said today. FOE has also criticised the SRA's announcement that local and regional rail schemes recommended by the Government's 'multi-modal studies' won't be funded until at least 2010.

Rail Campaigner Richard Dyer said:

“The SRA is honest about the industry's problems and the scale of the challenge ahead. Large-scale investment is clearly needed in London and the South East, but angry commuters in Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester and the rest of the country will be wondering what's in it for them."

There are also real doubts about whether or not the huge private sector investment needed will ever materialise. If we want a rail system to match the best of Europe across the country then Gordon Brown will have to put his hand a bit deeper into his pocket. He could start by cancelling damaging road schemes such as the A303 widening in Wiltshire and Devon - which runs virtually parallel to the Salisbury to Exeter rail line, which is still single track.

The concentration on London and the South East arises from the SRA's focus on delivering the Government's targets for rail, identified in Transport 2010: passenger and freight growth of 50%and 80% respectively, and a reduction in London area over-crowding. Friends of the Earth believes that these targets are too narrowly focussed, and that there should be separate passenger growth targets for each region.

Friends of the Earth also expressed concern about the SRA's delaying until after 2010 the implementation of rail schemes arising from multi-modal studies. These studies were set up by the Government to look at solutions to transport problems on key routes and at major congestion hot-spots.

Richard Dyer added: “The Government has put heavy emphasis on multi-modal studies to tackle transport problems around the country. But the SRA says it will not be able to fund any rail schemes coming from these studies before 2010. This will throw the Government's plans to tackle congestion further into confusion.”

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust