Government 'is prioritising sustainable transport'

Date: 21/10/2010

The government is prioritising transport spending on sustainable rail projects and low-carbon cars, it has revealed.

Following the announcement of the Comprehensive Spending Review yesterday (October 20th), the Department for Transport (DfT) stated the settlement involved making difficult decisions about priorities that will secure investment in important travel infrastructure.

It pledged to prioritise funding for schemes such as high-speed rail and Crossrail in order to provide commuters with attractive alternatives to using cars.

But for those who have no option but to drive, the coalition is working to make the UK "a world leader in ultra-carbon cars".

"By de-carbonising motoring, we can include the car in our vision of a future, low carbon, transport economy," the DfT explained.

To raise funds for investment in rail projects, the government has increased the cap on train fares, while it has also raised the Dartford crossing charge to facilitate proposals for a new crossing.

Recently, the government pledged £15 million towards the development of hybrid and electric buses.

Posted by Nick Anderson