Peninsula Rail Task Force - statement

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23/03/2015

“The Peninsula Rail Task Force welcomes the news from First Great Western that the new direct award will provide faster journey times, more capacity and improved rolling stock as a positive contribution to our continuing campaign. This is a important and significant step in the right direction:  the extra capacity for the Exeter area, more trains to and from Cornwall and Paignton will start to alleviate some of the pressures on our rail network. The prospect of updating our trains, consigning our ageing slam doors to history would bring helpful reductions in journey times. 

"However, we are aware that the long distance trains and maintaining the existing services to Paignton remain a decision for DfT to make. We are therefore fully behind the proposals, but until confirmation that the new rolling stock for Devon and Cornwall and services to Paignton are in place we will continue to make our case.  

“This is a helpful start from which we can continue our campaign with Government,  to press for a step change investment into our network. Greater resilience and Plymouth to London in 2h15 and Truro in 3h15 still remains our goal. We lag still far behind other regions in terms of infrastructure and funding with the benefits this brings.  The South West has clear untapped economic potential which will only be unlocked through better connectivity."

Notes to Editors:

For more information please contact  Liz Waugh at Coast Communications on 07966 388921 / main office 01752 847135.

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