MPs criticise Government rail plans

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More than 100 MPs have signed an early day motion (EDM) criticising Government proposals for the future of railways in the UK, the TUC has said.

The EDM warns that the Government’s plans will ‘worsen passenger services through the loss of thousands of frontline workers from trains, stations, ticket offices, safety-critical infrastructure and operational roles’, and ‘will result in higher fares, cuts in services and more crowded trains’.

MPs have raised concerns that the ‘proposals to break up Network Rail will increase the complexity and inefficiency of the railways’ and they also claim the government proposals ignore ‘the lessons from railways in European countries which have generally achieved lower costs and fares through a more unified structure’.

The EDM has attracted cross-party support including that of former Lib Dem leaders Charles Kennedy and Ming Campbell.

The MPs who have signed the EDM have urged the Government to run the railway as a ‘public service’ with ‘affordable fares and proper staffing levels’.

This comes as new research has found that while fare prices are ‘going through the roof’, investment by train operating companies in the railway network ‘has been halved over the last five years’, the TUC said.

TUC Deputy General Secretary Frances O’Grady said:

“MPs from across the political spectrum are voicing the concerns of thousands of their constituents who feel ripped off by private train operators who inflict heavy fare rises while cutting staff on trains and stations and keeping investment in decent facilities on trains and stations to a minimum.”

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