LibDems offer central London residents big transport improvements

7.00.05pm BST (GMT +0100) Sat 4th Aug 2007

Rail services would be drastically improved under LibDem plans

Mainline rail services out of London and Crossrail could get a big boost from new rail investment proposals being launched by the Liberal Democrats.

These are among the projects listed as worthy of support from a new "Future Transport Fund" which could deliver an extra £12 billion of investment in the rail network over the next five years. The fund is part of radical Liberal Democrat proposals to move towards a carbon-free transport system.

Commenting, chair of Westminster Liberal Democrats, Jo Hayes, said:

"This is great news for residents living in central London. We are lucky enough to be able to choose between several railway stations, with lines running in all directions. These proposals aim to improve these services.

"Across Britain, more people are travelling on the railways than at any time since the 1940s - and the network was much larger in those days. Overcrowding is a big problem in many areas at peak times. This is despite rail fares continuing to rise in real terms, while the cost of motoring continues to fall.

"The Government's rail white paper last month was vague and deeply unambitious. The Conservatives have nothing to offer our rail services - it was their botched privatisation that is largely responsible for the current combination of high fares and underinvestment.

"By contrast the Liberal Democrat plan announced today would double rail investment across Britain, not just improving existing services, but providing new ones, including potential new north-south and east-west lines to the high-speed standard enjoyed on the Continent. And as we expand the network we would reduce the cost of fares to passengers, getting even more people onto rail and off the roads, reducing dramatically the carbon emissions that are produced by transport.

"The Future Transport Fund we propose will provide ring-fenced funding for the improvements that future generations need if we are to cut our carbon emissions and tackle climate change.

"We would fund it by introducing a toll on road freight - charged to foreign and UK hauliers alike - and a charge on internal air flights. Road and air transport is much more damaging to the environment than trains, and the Liberal Democrats believe this should be reflected in their relative costs."

The proposals form part of wider climate change proposals which will be debated at the party's conference in Brighton in September.