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Billions pledged for rail upgrade Billions pledged for rail upgrade
(30 minutes later)
Billions of pounds are to be spent on creating a "bigger, stronger" railway, carrying twice as many passengers by 2030, the transport secretary has said.Billions of pounds are to be spent on creating a "bigger, stronger" railway, carrying twice as many passengers by 2030, the transport secretary has said.
Ruth Kelly said £10bn would be invested by 2014 to increase services and lengthen trains.Ruth Kelly said £10bn would be invested by 2014 to increase services and lengthen trains.
Among pledges were an extra 1,300 train carriages and upgrades at 150 stations.Among pledges were an extra 1,300 train carriages and upgrades at 150 stations.
Consumers raised concerns about fare rises, while Lib Dems said the plan was a "missed opportunity", and Tories said it was "reheated announcements".Consumers raised concerns about fare rises, while Lib Dems said the plan was a "missed opportunity", and Tories said it was "reheated announcements".
Map: Key locations for improvementsMap: Key locations for improvements
Other key proposals from the White Paper included:Other key proposals from the White Paper included:
    • The aim is to carry at least 180m more passengers within seven years
    • The aim is to carry at least 180m more passengers within seven years
    • More than 150 stations are to be upgraded and refurbished at a cost of £150m - London Bridge and Blackfriars stations to be upgraded by 2015 and 2011 respectively
    • More than 150 stations are to be upgraded and refurbished at a cost of £150m - London Bridge and Blackfriars stations to be upgraded by 2015 and 2011 respectively
    • £5.5bn Thameslink modernisation programme approved, trebling the number of stations on that cross-London network
    • £5.5bn Thameslink modernisation programme approved, trebling the number of stations on that cross-London network
    • £425m for improvements at Reading Station
    • £425m for improvements at Reading Station
    • £128m for improvements at Birmingham New Street station
    • £128m for improvements at Birmingham New Street station
    • Punctuality target of 92.6% of trains by 2014, up from the current 88%
    • Punctuality target of 92.6% of trains by 2014, up from the current 88%
    • No closures for rural rail lines
    • No closures for rural rail lines
    • Protection remains on regulated fare rises - which must be no more than 1% above the annual rate of inflation
    • Protection remains on regulated fare rises - which must be no more than 1% above the annual rate of inflation
    • The government believes its plans will allow trains to carry twice the number of passengers and freight by 2030, but acknowledges that estimate might be outstripped by demand.The government believes its plans will allow trains to carry twice the number of passengers and freight by 2030, but acknowledges that estimate might be outstripped by demand.
      If that is the case, "more radical options" may have to be considered, particularly on the London-Birmingham-Manchester corridor and on London's busiest commuter routes.If that is the case, "more radical options" may have to be considered, particularly on the London-Birmingham-Manchester corridor and on London's busiest commuter routes.
      HAVE YOUR SAY Proper investment in high speed rail links would minimise the need for internal flights Kay, Liverpool Send us your comments HAVE YOUR SAY Proper investment in high speed rail links would minimise the need for internal flights Kay, Liverpool Send us your comments class="" href="/1/hi/england/west_midlands/6913985.stm">New look for 'ugly' station
      It favours extra long trains of up to 16 carriages over double-decker trains, but says a high-speed magnetic rail link and dedicated freight lines were too expensive.It favours extra long trains of up to 16 carriages over double-decker trains, but says a high-speed magnetic rail link and dedicated freight lines were too expensive.
      Ms Kelly told MPs that the government had drawn up "the most ambitious strategy for growth on the railways in over 50 years".Ms Kelly told MPs that the government had drawn up "the most ambitious strategy for growth on the railways in over 50 years".
      She said the challenge was "to provide a railway that carries more passengers, on more and better trains and on more frequent, reliable, safe and affordable service."She said the challenge was "to provide a railway that carries more passengers, on more and better trains and on more frequent, reliable, safe and affordable service."
      She added: "We can't know precisely what our railway will look like in 30 years' time but now we can be confident of making it bigger, stronger and more flexible."She added: "We can't know precisely what our railway will look like in 30 years' time but now we can be confident of making it bigger, stronger and more flexible."
      But fares will have to cover some of the cost as Ms Kelly said government subsidies had nearly doubled during the "difficult years" of Railtrack.But fares will have to cover some of the cost as Ms Kelly said government subsidies had nearly doubled during the "difficult years" of Railtrack.
      "It is right that we now seek to return it closer to historic levels," she said."It is right that we now seek to return it closer to historic levels," she said.
      She said most people used "regulated fares" which were capped so prices could not rise more than 1% above inflation.She said most people used "regulated fares" which were capped so prices could not rise more than 1% above inflation.
      But the transport union TSSA said passengers faced a 34% rise in fares.But the transport union TSSA said passengers faced a 34% rise in fares.
      'False dawn''False dawn'
      Also in the White Paper, Ms Kelly said the government was committed to Crossrail, a proposed high-speed rail link from Berkshire to Essex via central London - and was currently trying to "pin down" private sector funding, to match government funding.Also in the White Paper, Ms Kelly said the government was committed to Crossrail, a proposed high-speed rail link from Berkshire to Essex via central London - and was currently trying to "pin down" private sector funding, to match government funding.
      But Conservative Theresa Villiers said it was another "false dawn" for the £15bn scheme, saying it was "getting more distant by the day".But Conservative Theresa Villiers said it was another "false dawn" for the £15bn scheme, saying it was "getting more distant by the day".
      She added that overcrowded trains were packed so tight "it would be a criminal offence to transport animals in the same conditions".She added that overcrowded trains were packed so tight "it would be a criminal offence to transport animals in the same conditions".
      And Lib Dem transport spokeswoman Susan Kramer said the White Paper was a "missed opportunity" to get people out of cars and planes and onto the railways and suggested most of the money outlined had been announced before.And Lib Dem transport spokeswoman Susan Kramer said the White Paper was a "missed opportunity" to get people out of cars and planes and onto the railways and suggested most of the money outlined had been announced before.
      She said it "seems extraordinary" that the government had not made more mention of Crossrail in the paper.She said it "seems extraordinary" that the government had not made more mention of Crossrail in the paper.
      George Muir, director-general of the Association of Train Operating Companies, described the proposals as the "first plausible plan for expanding the railway" in recent years.George Muir, director-general of the Association of Train Operating Companies, described the proposals as the "first plausible plan for expanding the railway" in recent years.
      But passenger groups have been angered that some train companies have raised off-peak prices by up to 20%.But passenger groups have been angered that some train companies have raised off-peak prices by up to 20%.
      Those carriages aren't going to be put into place until 2014 so that's a long wait and passenger numbers keep going up Julia ThomasTransport 2000Those carriages aren't going to be put into place until 2014 so that's a long wait and passenger numbers keep going up Julia ThomasTransport 2000
      Julia Thomas, of campaign group Transport 2000, told BBC Radio Five Live that the White Paper was a "major step in the right direction" but she had two main concerns.Julia Thomas, of campaign group Transport 2000, told BBC Radio Five Live that the White Paper was a "major step in the right direction" but she had two main concerns.
      "Firstly, those carriages aren't going to be put into place until 2014 so that's a long wait and passenger numbers keep going up," she said."Firstly, those carriages aren't going to be put into place until 2014 so that's a long wait and passenger numbers keep going up," she said.
      "Secondly, although they are concentrating on bottle necks like Reading and Birmingham New Street where there are major delays, there are quick gains to be made through signal improvements, looking at time tabling that would help passengers now.""Secondly, although they are concentrating on bottle necks like Reading and Birmingham New Street where there are major delays, there are quick gains to be made through signal improvements, looking at time tabling that would help passengers now."
      TSSA general secretary Gerry Doherty said: "Passengers will be forced to pay twice for improvements which are meant to benefit them, first as taxpayers and then as rail users.TSSA general secretary Gerry Doherty said: "Passengers will be forced to pay twice for improvements which are meant to benefit them, first as taxpayers and then as rail users.
      "Ministers claim they want to encourage rail travel and then kick passengers in the teeth with huge regular hikes in fares. They are pricing people off rail and onto the roads.""Ministers claim they want to encourage rail travel and then kick passengers in the teeth with huge regular hikes in fares. They are pricing people off rail and onto the roads."
      KEY LOCATIONS FOR IMPROVEMENTS 1. London A £5.5bn scheme will improve north-south rail services through the capital on the Thameslink route running from Bedford to BrightonA new station will be built at Blackfriars spanning the Thames, with a new entrance serving the Tate Modern art gallery on the South Bank. Some station platforms will be lengthened to allow 12-carriage trainsLondon Bridge station will be upgraded to provide new platforms and better passenger facilities 2. Reading Some £425m has been earmarked for five new platforms to improve capacity at the station, which has become a bottleneck for passenger and freight trains serving the south and west of England and Wales, and Oxford and Gatwick Airport. 3. Birmingham £128m will be spent on redeveloping New Street station to improve passenger facilities, including opening up the cramped, underground platforms to natural light.KEY LOCATIONS FOR IMPROVEMENTS 1. London A £5.5bn scheme will improve north-south rail services through the capital on the Thameslink route running from Bedford to BrightonA new station will be built at Blackfriars spanning the Thames, with a new entrance serving the Tate Modern art gallery on the South Bank. Some station platforms will be lengthened to allow 12-carriage trainsLondon Bridge station will be upgraded to provide new platforms and better passenger facilities 2. Reading Some £425m has been earmarked for five new platforms to improve capacity at the station, which has become a bottleneck for passenger and freight trains serving the south and west of England and Wales, and Oxford and Gatwick Airport. 3. Birmingham £128m will be spent on redeveloping New Street station to improve passenger facilities, including opening up the cramped, underground platforms to natural light.
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