John Leech MP slams government's rail failures

4.21.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 4th Jul 2007

John Leech has been working to raise the issue of rail overcrowding

Lib Dem Transport Spokesperson, John Leech today joined campaign group Transport 2000 in calling on the Government to tackle rail overcrowding and improve and expand services for passengers.

With over a billion people taking train journeys every year, rail overcrowding has become the number 1 passenger concern. Government figures forecast a 30% growth in rail passenger miles by 2016.

The Government's failing transport policy is creating a prohibitively expensive railway and that after a decade of New Labour, Britain's rail fares are the most expensive in Europe.

"Tackling overcrowding by raising the cost of travelling is a perverse incentive," said John Leech MP. "It will simply force even more people back into their cars.

"Rail use by passengers and for freight is at its highest level since the 1950s, and still rising," he continued. "This is great news - but the rail network and number of services has not expanded to keep up with demand.

<<ENDS>>

Notes to Editors:

[1] Transport 2000 is an independent campaigning and research body that represents the key transport interests of around 40 environmental groups, transport organisations and transport unions. We bring together people who seek to reduce the environmental and social effects of transport through encouraging less use of cars, lorries and planes and more use of rail, buses, trams, cycling and walking.

[2] Transport 2000's Sardine Man has been travelling around the country on Britain's most overcrowded trains, talking to passengers and asking them to email their MP to put pressure on the Secretary of State for Transport, Rt Hon Douglas Alexander, to expand rail services and reduce overcrowding. People around the country have been supporting Sardine Man's efforts, sending hundreds of letters to MPs through the Sardine Man website: www.sardineman.org.uk .

[3] See Network Rail's Initial Strategic Business Plan 2006