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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Tories set out rail reform plans | Tories set out rail reform plans |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The Conservatives are promising a "long-term" vision for Britain's railways, offering "practical solutions" to customers' problems. | The Conservatives are promising a "long-term" vision for Britain's railways, offering "practical solutions" to customers' problems. |
| Shadow transport secretary Theresa Villiers said longer trains, longer platforms and additional lines were needed to end "chronic overcrowding". | Shadow transport secretary Theresa Villiers said longer trains, longer platforms and additional lines were needed to end "chronic overcrowding". |
| She repeated the Tory plan for a new high-speed north-south train line. | |
| Labour said the Tories underfunded rail for years. The Lib Dems said they could not be trusted to deliver the changes. | |
| Ms Villiers will set out a plan for Britain's railways, including creating a "passengers' champion", making more use of existing track and allowing companies to hold franchises for longer periods. | Ms Villiers will set out a plan for Britain's railways, including creating a "passengers' champion", making more use of existing track and allowing companies to hold franchises for longer periods. |
| Timetabling | Timetabling |
| The high-speed line linking London, Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds would cut journey times and would later be extended to Newcastle and Scotland, the party said. | The high-speed line linking London, Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds would cut journey times and would later be extended to Newcastle and Scotland, the party said. |
| The Tories are also promising to increasing the powers of rail regulators to create a "passengers' champion", with the ability to bring in penalties for operators. | The Tories are also promising to increasing the powers of rail regulators to create a "passengers' champion", with the ability to bring in penalties for operators. |
| By building a new high-speed line connecting London, Birmingham Manchester and Leeds, the Conservatives will take a major step forward in transforming the UK's transport infrastructure Theresa Villiers, Conservatives | By building a new high-speed line connecting London, Birmingham Manchester and Leeds, the Conservatives will take a major step forward in transforming the UK's transport infrastructure Theresa Villiers, Conservatives |
| They say they would scale back government involvement in areas such as timetabling and purchasing new trains. | They say they would scale back government involvement in areas such as timetabling and purchasing new trains. |
| The party is promising to make 15 to 20-year rail franchises the norm to give greater certainty and encourage investment. | The party is promising to make 15 to 20-year rail franchises the norm to give greater certainty and encourage investment. |
| There would also be a moratorium on building on disused rail lines, to increase the possibility of reopening them. | There would also be a moratorium on building on disused rail lines, to increase the possibility of reopening them. |
| Ms Villiers said: "These plans set out our long-term vision for Britain's railways and provide practical solutions to concerns rail users face every day. | Ms Villiers said: "These plans set out our long-term vision for Britain's railways and provide practical solutions to concerns rail users face every day. |
| "Our rail network is suffering from chronic levels of over-crowding. We desperately need new capacity - longer trains, longer platforms and, ultimately, additional lines. | "Our rail network is suffering from chronic levels of over-crowding. We desperately need new capacity - longer trains, longer platforms and, ultimately, additional lines. |
| "By building a new high-speed line connecting London, Birmingham Manchester and Leeds, the Conservatives will take a major step forward in transforming the UK's transport infrastructure. But we also recognise the need to tackle the issues that plague our existing railways and which Labour continue to ignore." | |
| Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon accused her of having "a short memory". | |
| He said: "The Tory years were characterised by under-investment in Britain's railways. Years of under-funding and a botched privatisation resulted in instability and unreliability. | |
| "Today, thanks to Labour investment and the stability we have brought to the management of our rail network, more people are travelling by train than at any time since the 1940s." | |
| Lib Dem transport spokesman Norman Baker said: "The Tories simply cannot be trusted to deliver the rail network that Britain needs. | |
| "They have embraced the concept of high-speed rail, but they won't say how they'll pay for it and their plans won't start until the Parliament after next." | "They have embraced the concept of high-speed rail, but they won't say how they'll pay for it and their plans won't start until the Parliament after next." |