Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly has announced extra capacity and improved reliability for rail passengers in the East of England.
The region will benefit from the £5.5bn Thameslink modernisation scheme, which will increase capacity from Bedford to London by up to 70% by 2011, and extend to Cambridge, Peterborough and King's Lynn by 2015. Prior to 2015 additional capacity will be provided on existing services.
Today's rail White Paper provides for an overall demand increase of 16% on routes operating in the East of England by 2014. Passengers on inter city trains will see performance improve to 92% of trains on time, and the worst delays reduced by 36%. Passengers travelling on commuter services will benefit from performance of 93% and a reduction in the worst delays of 36%.
These schemes are part of today's rail White Paper, Delivering a Sustainable Railway, which guarantees a railway that will expand to carry at least 180 million more passengers a year nationally.
The Transport Secretary announced that, across the country, capacity will increase to accommodate growth of more than 20 per cent in the next seven years, on a network which will be even safer and more reliable.
The strategy also allows for a doubling in capacity over 30 years through continual and rational growth of a rail network which is flexible enough to respond to changing passenger demand.
It must also be a railway which sharpens its environmental performance and thrives on new technology, the strategy makes clear.
Ms Kelly said:
"Our railway is flourishing and in this White Paper we show how we will grow and develop the network for decades to come.
"This strategy is aimed at delivering what passengers want - and so not only will there be more capacity and reliability on their trains but also more modern stations, simple and efficient ticketing, quality of service and value for money.
"Steady investment has given us a rail network which is in good shape for the first time in a generation and this means we can be ambitious for its future. It should be a railway which helps power economic growth and enhances the quality of our lives. 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."
Ms Kelly also announced that the Government will continue to limit fare increases under its control (including standard season tickets and savers) to no more than one per cent above inflation. A new simplified fares structure will introduce just four basic ticket types across the country, ticket retailing will be streamlined to reduce ticket office queues and station access and passenger information improved.
The Eastern region is also set to benefit from the creation of a £200m strategic freight network, and a number of stations in the region are expected to benefit from a £150m fund to refurbish and upgrade stations.
The Government formally submitted its spending plans (including the High Level Output Specification) today for approval by the Office of Rail Regulation.
The region will benefit from the £5.5bn Thameslink modernisation scheme, which will increase capacity from Bedford to London by up to 70% by 2011, and extend to Cambridge, Peterborough and King's Lynn by 2015. Prior to 2015 additional capacity will be provided on existing services.
Today's rail White Paper provides for an overall demand increase of 16% on routes operating in the East of England by 2014. Passengers on inter city trains will see performance improve to 92% of trains on time, and the worst delays reduced by 36%. Passengers travelling on commuter services will benefit from performance of 93% and a reduction in the worst delays of 36%.
These schemes are part of today's rail White Paper, Delivering a Sustainable Railway, which guarantees a railway that will expand to carry at least 180 million more passengers a year nationally.
The Transport Secretary announced that, across the country, capacity will increase to accommodate growth of more than 20 per cent in the next seven years, on a network which will be even safer and more reliable.
The strategy also allows for a doubling in capacity over 30 years through continual and rational growth of a rail network which is flexible enough to respond to changing passenger demand.
It must also be a railway which sharpens its environmental performance and thrives on new technology, the strategy makes clear.
Ms Kelly said:
"Our railway is flourishing and in this White Paper we show how we will grow and develop the network for decades to come.
"This strategy is aimed at delivering what passengers want - and so not only will there be more capacity and reliability on their trains but also more modern stations, simple and efficient ticketing, quality of service and value for money.
"Steady investment has given us a rail network which is in good shape for the first time in a generation and this means we can be ambitious for its future. It should be a railway which helps power economic growth and enhances the quality of our lives. 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."
Ms Kelly also announced that the Government will continue to limit fare increases under its control (including standard season tickets and savers) to no more than one per cent above inflation. A new simplified fares structure will introduce just four basic ticket types across the country, ticket retailing will be streamlined to reduce ticket office queues and station access and passenger information improved.
The Eastern region is also set to benefit from the creation of a £200m strategic freight network, and a number of stations in the region are expected to benefit from a £150m fund to refurbish and upgrade stations.
The Government formally submitted its spending plans (including the High Level Output Specification) today for approval by the Office of Rail Regulation.
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