Rail investment should come to Cambridge

12.00.00pm GMT Wed 15th Nov 2006

Following reports today in The Times that Network Rail is failing to spend millions of pounds granted by the Government to improve punctuality and reduce congestion on our trains, Cambridge MP David Howarth has called for greater investment in Cambridge rail routes.

Earlier this year the Evening Standard found in March that the Cambridge to London route was the most overcrowded rail route in the UK.

Mr. Howarth commented:

"Cambridge passengers traveling to and from London, and on other routes from the city, suffer significant overcrowding. The train operator, First Capital Connect, introduced afternoon ticket restrictions on the King's Cross to Cambridge route in order to reduce overcrowding. Instead of raising prices we need real improvements to the service.

"Network Rail should use some of this unspent money to improve capacity in trains to Cambridge. We need more trains per hour and to increase the number of carriages at peak times."

David Howarth MP

Network Rail was granted £50 million for projects to reduce congestion but only spent £4 million last year. This year Network Rail plans to spend just £26 million, leaving £70 million unspent over the two years.