Easing road congestion by expanding rail services "is bizarre" says transport organisation

Date: 16/2/2010

The idea that rail services can ease congestion on the roads by encouraging people to travel by train instead of by car is "bizarre", an organisation committed to making the best use of land used by transport services has stated.

Paul Withrington, director of Transport Watch, explained that the majority of railways begin or end in places that are difficult to reach by car or where it is very difficult to park, so few drivers would be able to see using the railway as an alternative to travelling by car.

He added that the problem is particularly heightened in London, where 70 per cent of all rail journeys either begin or end.

"Secondly car journeys serve a dispersed land use that is almost impossible to serve by bus let alone a train," he noted.

Mr Withrington also criticised proposed plans for the expansion and further electrification of redundant lines, calling this process "punishingly expensive".

He was commenting in response to the release of a new report by the Transport Committee, which proposed investment in rail enhancements to benefit the economy and connect local communities.