Newsdesk
GOODBYE CONNEX IT'S SO GOOD TO SEE YOU GO!
27th July 2003Hazel Dawe, the Green Party's Campaigns Officer in East Kent, is jubilant at the 'sacking' of Connex by the Strategic Rail Authority. She comments:
"As a season ticket holder, I am sick of travelling on dirty, overcrowded trains. Since returning to this country in 1988, I have used trains frequently whilst living in Margate, Canterbury and now Ashford. I have seen every possible sign of decline in Connex services, and scandalous Government complacency about the rail industry it is steadily re-nationalising. Will a new operator, from the end of 2004, make things better?
"The Government must, as I am urging the Secretary of State for Transport, inject new funds into the Strategic Rail Authority to bring forward key rail projects in Kent, to compensate for the poor services provided by Connex and the lamentable track conditions provided by Railtrack and its successor Network Rail. This should include the Ashford-Hastings rail line upgrade and the Thameslink 2000 upgrade of London Bridge station, which will increase capacity there helping Kent rail services.
"Since Kent's population is growing rapidly, thanks to Government imposition of expansion upon north-West Kent and Ashford, the speed of delivery of new rail services should be increased to match. It is desirable that the Government starts to use the joined-up thinking implied by its 10 year Transport Plan. Cutting congestion and reducing car use will only occur when the rail services in Kent are dramatically improved. We have already been waiting too long." ENDS c251 words
FURTHER INFORMATION: Hazel Dawe, on 01233 645167 or 07960 956272. Contact address: 10 Hillbrow Road, Ashford, Kent TN23 4QH
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