Darling unveils rail vision.. UPDATED 23-3-06

The government today unveils its vision for Britain's ailing rail network.

Among the radical proposals to cater for record passenger numbers are plans for faster and longer Swiss-style double-decker trains, longer platforms, a new high-speed line between London and Scotland and high-speed services between London and major towns in England.

http://www.inthenews.co.uk/news/news/transport/rail-network-vision-be-unveiled-$324255.htm


More later........

 

More from AOL here ...

http://channels.aolsvc.co.uk/travel/art ... 3409990004

( i think a pic of a train is preferable to one of Darling ! \/ )

 

More on the above.
Plans for the future of Britain's railways, including proposals for double-decker trains, are due to be unveiled by the government.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4807762.stm

 

GOVERNMENT PLANS NEW LONG-TERM RAIL STRATEGY — HIGH SPEED LINE NOT RULED OUT
http://www.railnews.co.uk/news.aspx?id=2576

 

Double decker trains a smokescreen to hide threatened line closures
Responding to Alistair Darling's Speech to the National Rail Conference today, Alistair Carmichael MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow Transport Secretary, said:.......
Talk of new high-speed lines and double decker trains is little more than a smoke-screen to hide threatened line closures. Promising to look at introducing double decker trains is no substitute for the fundamental change that is needed to get passengers and freight onto rail.

"Network Rail have indicated that the work needed to raise bridges and widen tunnels for double decker trains means they will be impossible to deliver without significant additional investment. However additional capacity can be delivered almost immediately through cost effective measures such as longer trains with selective door opening. While one train is cancelled every four minutes, waiting for double decker trains will just be doubly frustrating for rail passengers.

"Alistair Darling is taking more and more decisions away from those best placed to run our railways - local decision makers. Increased central control of our railways has failed to result in improved services."
http://www.libdems.org.uk/transport/story.html

 

Longer trains and improved passenger services key to improvements on the SWT mainline, new plans unveiled on Tuesday

Trains lengthened to eight carriages and an hourly service between London and Exeter were among the proposals put forward for the South West Mainline.

A refurbishment of Waterloo station is also on the cards, due for compleion in 2014

Full story HERE

SOURCE: BBC

 

£2bn pledged for region's trains
Train services across the north of England are to receive more than £2bn of public money over the next seven years, the government has confirmed.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/4829974.stm

 

AMBITIOUS’ PLANS FOR SOUTH WEST MAIN LINE
PASSENGERS using the busy routes into London's Waterloo station would benefit from longer trains and a new hourly service to and from Exeter, under proposals unveiled by Network Rail. These also include enhancements to the line from Southampton, which will allow larger freight containers, and therefore growth in the rail freight market.
http://www.railnews.co.uk/news.aspx?id=2582