Railwatch

Published by Railfuture

Railwatch is the quarterly magazine of Railfuture, which is free to members.


Non-members can subscribe to Railwatch, receiving it by post.

Subscribe

Railwatch 068 - July 1996

Labour will change the points

British Rail will stage a comeback if Labour wins the general election. Franchising of rail services will stop while responsibility for running trains will be given back to a revamped British Rail which will have new aims - to increase rail use.

The new Labour policy called Consensus for Change - launched in late May - will also commit Labour to setting national and local targets for shifting freight from road to rail. There will be targets for improving public transport and reducing traffic congestion.

The BR board will have some worker representation but the main aim of the board would be to return the railways to an "integrated whole". The Office of Passenger Rail Franchising would be abolished and its powers would go to a reformed BR which would be a "stakeholder" company. The Rail Regulator would be used to secure higher levels of investment and to protect the interests of passengers and taxpayers.

Transport spokesman Brian Wilson said Railtrack would be prevented from selling land which might be needed for the development of rail freight. He highlighted the fact that rail freight users paid 60% of "track charges" while road hauliers paid only 20% of "track charges". Instead of public subsidy going to the train operators it would be routed towards the infrastructure with the aim of achieving lower track access charges and so increasing use of the railways.

The party said it wants to provide a broad strategy for the next 20 years. Buses will be brought back into a regulatory structure and company car taxation would be "reviewed". Local authorities would be cleared to introduce more 20mph zones and pilot schemes for road tolls in congested areas.

Note: contact details (postal and email addresses, along with telephone numbers) in old editions of Railwatch out of date. Click CONTACT US for latest contact details.


[Issue 68 Index]

[Railwatch Home] [Prev Issue (67)] [Railwatch Issues] [RIS Progress Reports] [SRUBLUK Progress Reports] [Next Issue (69)] [Railfuture Home]


Rail users are encouraged to join Railfuture to help us campaign for a bigger and better railway - membership for individuals is just £20 per year

Railfuture is an independent, voluntary group representing rail users in Britain with 20,000 affiliated and individual members. It is not funded by train companies, political parties or trade unions, and all members have an equal say.

Railfuture campaigns for cheap and convenient rail services for everyone; better links for buses, bikes and pedestrians; policies to get more heavy lorries on to rail; new lines, stations and freight terminals. In short, a better rail service and a bigger rail system for both passengers and freight.

Railfuture is pro-rail but not anti-road or anti-air. However, we campaign for a switch from road and air to rail. We do not interfere in the running of the railway - we campaign for the quality and range of services provided, not how they are delivered. We are the only champion of all rail users.


Railfuture is the campaigning name of Railfuture Ltd.

A not-for-profit Company Limited by Guarantee.

Registered in England and Wales No. 05011634.

Registered Office: Edinburgh House, 1-5 Bellevue Road, Clevedon, North Somerset BS21 7NP (for legal correspondence only).

All other correspondence to 14 Ghent Field Circle, Thurston, Suffolk IP31 3UP


© Copyright Railfuture Ltd 2024.

Railfuture is happy for extracts to be used by journalists, researchers and students. We would, however, appreciate a mention of Railfuture in any article, website or programme. Except with Railfuture's express written permission, no one should distribute or commercially exploit the content.


Privacy Statement

Click Privacy to read Railfuture's GDPR statement on how we treat your data.

08.03.2024

This site does not use its own cookies, although Google Analytics does. Hosted by TSO Host (cPanel) and maintained for Railfuture by Billing Specialists Ltd.