Archived press release

Darling must sort out rail shambles to help tackle road congestion

16 June 2003

Transport Secretary Alistair Darling must sort out the UK's shambolic rail network to help cut congestion on our roads, Friends of the Earth said today.

Alistair Darling today said that fares would have to rise to pay for the necessary investment in Britain's railways. His comments coincide with a report by the Strategic Rail Authority [1] warning that services may have to be cut on some busy lines. And in a further development today, the Independent Transport Commission told the Government that traffic on our busiest roads could rise by 25 per cent over the next seven years unless a nationwide congestion charging system is introduced.

Since Labour came to power in 1997, the cost of motoring has fallen, whilst the cost of using buses and trains has risen [2].

Friends of the Earth Transport Campaigner Richard Dyer said:

"If Alistair Darling really wants to cut congestion on our over-crowded roads, introducing above inflation rail fare increases, and service cuts on busy rail routes are a strange way to go about it. The rail network must be upgraded to take more trains that run on time. But this will only happen if the Government gets to grips with our shambolic rail system, and provides the investment so desperately needed. The rail Industry must also cut its costs."

Notes

[1] The SRA's Capacity Utilisation Strategy states that 75% of theoretical capacity is the threshold for maintaining reliable train performance. It identifies several rail routes where 90% of current capacity is already being utilised including the East Coast Main Line between London and Peterborough and the Midland Mainline between London and Bedford. With no significant track upgrades planned for these routes in the near future service cuts to improve performance are likely

[2] Taking 1974 as a baseline (and discounting inflation), the real change in costs of travelling by car, train and bus.

Hansard 20 Nov 2002 see:
www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200203/cmhansrd/vo021120/text/21120w20.htm

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