No light at the end of the tunnel for high speed rail link, says Euro-MP

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 28th Aug 2002

Liz Lynne, Liberal Democrat MEP the West Midlands, has reacted in outrage to announcements today that “Phase 2” of the plan to improve the West Coast Main Line and allow trains to run at a maximum speed of 140mph has been postponed “indefinitely”.

“Almost a year ago it became clear that despite assurances, the plan to finally introduce 140mph trains on the route was under threat. First it was put back from 2005 to 2008. Now it appears that there is no light at the end of the tunnel for the rail link,” commented Liz.

“What is worse, is this represents a further scaling down from the Strategic Rail Authority’s announcement at the beginning of the year which was supposed to set in stone plans for developing the national rail network for the next 10 years. It is clear that the SRA does not regard the West Coast Main Line as a priority at all.”

“The passengers who are currently having to put up with massive disruption in the Rugby area right now – and who will face further disruption in the Stoke-on-Trent area next year – face enormous inconvenience for what amounts to only part of the originally promised improvements. They would be right to feel cheated by the Government and the SRA.”