Big Set Back for Rail Improvement

12.00.00am GMT Tue 19th Nov 2002

The prolonged crisis in Railtrack has led to delays in improvements promised to local services.

Vincent Cable was told yesterday at a meeting with SW Trains top management:

*the promised increase in frequency in trains on the Windsor line and The Kingston-Teddington-Twickenham loop line, which was due to come into effect next summer (2003) may take up to a year longer - because of delays in new electricity investments.

*the refurbishment of Twickenham station - better lighting; better CCTV; improved waiting areas - has been postponed for, possibly, five years, because there is no funding, at present, for station enhancement (beyond the current improvements, financed by the council, in the forecourt).

In addition, punctuality is declining because of the fragile state of the infrastructure. Every time it rains there are breakdowns. Twice in recent weeks the rail system around Twickenham has completely stopped because of breakdowns caused by major electrical failures (once at the end of last Saturdays rugby international).

Vincent Cable said: "This is a very sorry state, the product of almost a decade of disorganisation or under investment following the disruption caused by the privatisation of the rail system and then the collapse of Railtrack."

"The rail companies are now operating on a very short financial leash and are not being allowed to make long term investments."