Investing in Rail to help "Sardines"

Labour's David Lepper MP joined campaign group Transport 2000’s Sardine Man and film and TV star Jenny Agutter in calling on the Government to tackle rail overcrowding.

David Lepper said:

“There are over a billion people taking train journeys every year, and rail overcrowding has become a major issue for many.

“Rail investment is now well over twice the amount that was being spent in the last decade of the Tory government. Labour is committed to reorganising the rail industry to improve performance, drive down costs and improve the service for passengers. We have ordered a 1,000 new carriages to tackle overcrowding, and 40% of carriages have been replaced since1997, altogether making a better railway for passengers.

“I welcome this week’s announcement that from the end of next year some Gatwick Express services will be extended to Brighton, offering more trains per hour on the main line, but I will be lobbying hard to make rail travel even better for my constituents.”

Jenny Agutter, Transport 2000’s patron, is encouraging other MPs to join the campaign. She says:

“Rail use by passengers and for freight is having a real renaissance and is at its highest level since the 1950s, and still rising. This is great news – but the rail network and number of services has not expanded to keep up with demand. The Government will be issuing a rail strategy this summer which must place growing the railways at its heart.”