RMT welcomes high-speed rail review

Publication Date: June 22 2008

Environmental pressure makes decision ‘a matter of urgency’

NETWORK RAIL'S expected announcement of a feasibility study into five possible high-speed rail lines has been warmly welcomed by Britain's biggest rail union, whose annual conference opens in Nottingham this afternoon.

RMT warns that environmental pressures dictate that the go-ahead must be given 'sooner rather than later' on high-speed rail - as well as electrification of existing lines - and that ministers should step back from a 'premature' decision on expansion of Heathrow.

"This is a welcome announcement and comes not a moment too soon," RMT general secretary Bob Crow said in Nottingham today.

"The future lies in high-speed rail and electrification of the existing network, because the environment and the economy are crying out for a decisive shift away from never-ending expansion of road and air travel, and because the oil crisis is not going to go away.

"There is ample evidence to show that high-speed rail is the viable alternative that can accommodate the growing transport demand and help in the battle to reduce carbon emissions, and RMT will shortly publish a report that makes that case in relation to Heathrow," Bob Crow said.