18-3-02

ACTION REQUIRED OVER RAIL DELAYS- BARRETT

John Barrett MP, the Scottish Liberal Democrat Spokesperson on Cross Border Transport, today commented on new figures, which showed that delays on Scotland’s rail network are continuing to increase.

These new statistics show rail services getting worse and worse, with some train companies’ delays increasing by over 100% since 2000.

In a statement, John Barrett MP said:

“Delays in December 2001 show rail passengers in Scotland would lose thousands of years of their lives waiting for trains. Yet Stephen Byers and the Government are failing to come up with any real long-term vision or ideas to improve rail services.

“Reducing the number of train operating companies and giving them responsibility for track maintenance would be a good start. This would help to reduce rail fragmentation, which has been one of the main contributors to the mess the railways are currently in.”

ENDS