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NEWS RELEASE
Monday 7th August 2006
New Cross Country Franchise:
Protest at dropping of Scotland-Manchester rail services
TRANSform Scotland have today (Monday 7th) criticised
the UK Department for Transport's proposals for dropping Edinburgh-Manchester
and Glasgow-Manchester rail services from the 'New Cross Country Franchise'.
[1] [2] TRANSform Scotland is writing to all Edinburgh &
Glasgow MSPs and MPs to ask them to protest at the plans.
Colin Howden, Director of TRANSform Scotland, said:
"Low cost airlines must be rubbing their hands with glee at the Department
for Transport's plans for rail services from Scotland. We would expect
to see a maximum journey time of three hours between Edinburgh and Manchester
if rail is to win business from the airlines, but instead these proposals
will almost certainly further slow down rail journeys.
"The proposals are likely to lead to future Edinburgh-Manchester
and Glasgow-Manchester services having slower trains with less seating
capacity. Virgin Trains has introduced new and faster trains on its Cross
Country routes in recent years and it would be a retrograde step if the
quality of service was to be damaged.
"It would be a serious failure on behalf of the DfT if these proposals
were to lead to reduced opportunities for rail to challenge air travel
on these important transport routes. We have serious reservations about
the proposals and are calling for the DfT to revise them. Edinburgh-Manchester
is manifestly a 'cross-country' route and it is bizarre that the proposals
suggest that it be provided for by a 'Trans-Pennine' service."
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS:
[1] TRANSform Scotland
TRANSform Scotland is the national sustainable transport campaign,
bringing together rail, bus and shipping operators, local authorities,
national environment and conservation groups, consultancies and local
transport groups - interested in transport, the environment and a sustainable
Scotland. We can be contacted at Lamb's House, Burgess Street, Leith,
Edinburgh, EH6 6RD. Tel 0131 467 7714; fax 0131 554 8656; email <info@transformscotland.org.uk>;
web <http://www.transformscotland.org.uk>.
[2] New Cross Country Franchise
The DfT's consultation on its New Cross Country Franchise ends today (07/08/06)
- see <http://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_railways/documents/divisionhomepage/611828.hcsp>.
The new cross-country franchise, currently operated by Virgin Trains,
would begin operation in November 2007. One of the proposals is for Edinburgh-Manchester
and Glasgow-Manchester services to no longer by served by Virgin Trains
but rather to be served by Trans Pennine Express trains.
[3] TRANSform Scotland response
TRANSform Scotland have called for the finalised DfT Base Case
Specification for the franchise applicants to be amended along these lines:
* Provide for increases in rolling stock capacity so that demand can be
met
* Retain Scotland-Manchester services as part of New XC Franchise
* Reconsider the proposed severing of Scottish journey opportunities at
Birmingham
* Reconsider the proposals to lengthen journeys as a result of use of
ECML instead of WCML
Our full response is available at <http://www.transformscotland.org.uk/info/docs/2006-08-07_XC_franchise.pdf>
END OF NEWS RELEASE
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