Rural train campaigners welcome new report (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Rural train campaigners welcome new report

A GROUP campaigning to safeguard and improve the Cotswolds' much criticised train line has welcomed a new Government report highlighting the importance of rural railways.

The Cotswold Line Promotion Group (CLPG) says the report, by the House of Commons Transport Select Committee into Rural Railways, proves the Cotswold Line and other countryside railways are needed.

The committee's members rode on the line, which serves Moreton-in-Marsh, while on a fact-finding tour of Britain's railways last year.

Their report supports active community rail partnerships and bus regulation alterations to help councils integrate public transport networks by connecting buses with trains.

They published it three weeks after Alistair Darling, Secretary of State for Transport, told Parliament the line's services were so unreliable they had become "totally unacceptable".

CLPG chairman, Derek Potter, said the line was not strictly a rural railway because it was an inter-city facility linking Oxford, Hereford and Worcester.

But he welcomed the report, saying it highlighted the line's importance and supported the CLPG's call for integrated transport.

He said: "We will have a look at it and see if there's anything in there particularly relevant to the Cotswolds Line.

"The MPs' select committee is very knowledgeable.

"We were very impressed with the interest they showed in the Cotswold Line."

CLPG vice-chairman, John Ellis, said the report showed that investment in the Cotswold Line was justified.

He said: "On the last two trains on which I've travelled there's been people standing and they have not been peak trains.

"There's a need for more capacity and the demand is always there."

The Local Government Association (LGA) said the report proved rural railways should be preserved because they were vital links between communities.

Councillor David Sparks, who chairs the LGA's Environment Board, said: "Many rural lines have experienced growth in traffic in recent years and have a bright future.

"However, the Railways Bill currently before Parliament has caused concern that rural rail closures will be made easier.

"Whilst we accept ministers' assurances that they have no intention to embark upon a Beeching-style closure programme, nevertheless historical safeguards are being eroded by the bill."