RAIL SERVICE SHOULD BE ON TRACK FOR IMPROVEMENT - ÖPIK (Montgomeryshire Liberal Democrats)

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Montgomeryshire Liberal Democrats <montlibdems@gmail.com>

RAIL SERVICE SHOULD BE ON TRACK FOR IMPROVEMENT - ÖPIK

May 21, 2009 2:02 PM

Lembit Öpik, Liberal Democrat MP for Montgomeryshire, yesterday took part in a debate surrounding the Heart of Wales' railway that runs through part of Powys.

With tourism expected to rise this summer, with more families opting to stay within the UK's borders for their holiday, and European visitors taking advantage of the weaker pound, the Welsh Liberal Democrats are pushing for an improved railway network across the whole of Wales to support and encourage this tourism.

Among the issues raised during the debate were increasing the number of services, improving the rolling stock, and opening closed stations.

Speaking during the debate, Lembit said:

"Arriva Trains Wales also operates a service that goes through my constituency to Shrewsbury and Aberystwyth. What is his view of the reliability of the service? I must admit that it has improved now that the trains go through to Birmingham International. Is there any collective action he thinks we can take to ensure that the reliability of the service continues to improve?"

He added later:

"Is it in the Government's strategic plan to consider opening stations to benefit tourist towns such as Carno in my constituency? What is his view about increasing the frequency of services on other lines generally? Is there a strategic objective? We want an hourly service, but what do the Government think about such ideas?"

In response, the Minister acknowledged that there had been significant investment in the rail service to reflect the increased usage of the network but he would also "continue to maintain close relationships with our counterparts in the Welsh Assembly" and "continue to work together to ensure that the needs of that railway and of constituents in Wales and the borders are met by a reliable service."

Ends/diwedd

Notes:

For a link to the debate, please visit:

http://pubs1.tso.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmhansrd/cm090519/halltext/90519h0008.htm#09051961000003