26 November 2020
RMT Press Office:
Responding to the DfT statement on Beeching rail links and forgotten stations RMT general secretary Mick Cash said;
“Supporting new railway lines is always welcome but suggesting this will somehow reverse Beeching cuts is pure spin.
“There is no definite decision, funding or timetable to open new lines and instead of a national direction to begin railway reopenings this leaves local projects and councils to compete for funding.
“This proposal is lacking in ambition when more than ever we need new ambition that supports a nationally planned and funded programme of guaranteed line reopenings to boost local economies and connectivity, and meet the climate change challenge.”
Ends.
Notes for editors
In 2019 the report The case for expanding the rail network was produced with the support of the RMT and found that a nationally led programme of expansion investing £4.8 billion could reopen 33 rail lines.
https://bettertransport.org.uk/media/05-february-2019-rail-reopenings-report
RMT will be producing further research to show how more lines can be opened.
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