Archived press release

Changing trains does not have to take years

24 April 2002

Seven-point plan for quick rail wins

Friends of the Earth today challenged the rail industry and the Government to back aseven-point plan for quick improvements to Britain's railways.

The simple steps would show passengers that real improvements are possible through cheaper fares, more services, greater reliability and improve safety and information. All could be implemented relatively quickly at relatively low cost.

FOE wants to:

• Cut the cost of rail travel by introducing a national off-peak discount railcard [1].
  
• Run more services when people want them such as 'night-out trains' and moreSunday services [2];
  
• Tackle bottlenecks to help reliability through small improvements to junctions and signalling [3];
  
• Extend the network by building new stations, planning new and reopened lines or using freight-only lines for passenger services [4];
  
• Provide better transport links to stations through secure and well-lit cycle parkingfacilities at all stations, safer walking routes to stations and a pilot train-taxi scheme[5];
  
• Provide good information for all passengers by installing help points at allunstaffed stations [6]; and
  
• Improve safety by setting a timetable for all stations in the country to have 'securestation' accreditation [7].

Friends of the Earth's Transport Campaigner Tony Bosworth said:
"Rail travellers are fed up. They have put up with a poor service for too long and want to see improvements. Many of the changes needed will obviously take a long time. But we can do a lot relatively quickly to make fares cheaper, to make stations safer, to run more trains when people want them, and to make it easier to get to and from stations. All of these would be small but significant improvements and there's no reason why they can't happen, or at least be started, in months rather than years."

Last month Friends of the Earth published a briefing showing how Government fundingfor the railways could be increased by 75% without having any impact on health oreducation spending [8].

Tony Bosworth added:
"The money is available to make these changes. It's up to the Government to find the money and the rail industry to take the lead in making things happen. Passengers will settle for no less."

Friends of the Earth is asking rail passengers to back its campaign for greater rail investment by sending a text message to the Treasury on 07764 125 125 or by sending an email via its website at www.stoptrainrobbery.com [9]

NOTES

[1]This would be a national version of the Network Card available in the South East and would offer one-third discount on off-peak fares throughout the country. This would help cut fares and encourage greater use of off-peak services where there is plenty of spare capacity.

[2]This would include later last trains from towns and cities around the country into their hinterland (particularly around Birmingham and Leeds), trains through the night from London to many suburban locations, and increased Sunday services year-round on branch lines in Devon, Cornwall and the North West.

[3]Bottlenecks cause rail congestion problems and reduce service levels. In some cases, relatively small-scale improvements can lead to improved services. Possible examples include more passing points on the Oxenholme - Windermere line in the Lake District and the Middlesbrough - Whitby line in the North York Moors and tackling capacity problems at Dore Junction near Sheffield.

[4]New services could include Walsall - Castle Bromwich (in the West Midlands) and on the Leamside Line between Pelaw and Ferryhill (in the North East). Towns such as Dunstable (in Bedfordshire), Heywood (Lancashire) and Washington New Town (Tyne & Wear) could be reconnected to the national rail network. New stations could be opened at places such as Ilkeston and Trowell (East Midlands), Willenhall, Aldridge and Kenilworth (West Midlands).

[5]The Treintaxi scheme operates at 160 stations in Holland. A 2 add-on ticket buys the passenger a taxi journey to anywhere within the town or city boundaries. The Treintaxis leave from special bays usually right next to the station exit.

[6]Help-points are fitted on station platforms and allow passengers to speak directly to a train operator's customer information line to get up-to-date train running information.

[7]'Secure stations' is a national scheme that give accreditation to stations that reach specified standards in crime management, station design and station management. It is operated by the Department of Transport, Local Government & the Regions in partnership with the British Transport Police and Crime Concern. Accreditation is optional, and currently approximately only one-third of UK stations meet the required standards.

[8]This would be done by cutting expenditure on road building and by gradual rises in fuel tax to keep motoring costs constant rather than letting them fall by 20% by 2010, as the Government plans. Full details are contained in Friends of the Earth's briefing 'Paying for rail'.

[9]Further details of the text messaging campaign are available on request.

If you're a journalist looking for press information please contact the Friends of the Earth media team on 020 7566 1649.

Published by Friends of the Earth Trust