Keep Momentum
28 Apr 2005
With the General Election campaign in full swing the Railway Forum has been looking back at how far Britain’s railways have come since the 2001 election.
Four years ago the rail industry was emerging from the Hatfield accident and its aftermath. Much has happened since, including the collapse of Railtrack and its replacement with Network Rail. After a number of setbacks a great deal of ground has been made up and in terms of passenger demand progress has been exceptional.
Railways are now growing faster than other modes of transport: since 1994 passenger kilometres travelled on national rail have risen faster in every year (with the exception of 2000-2002, post-Hatfield) than passenger kilometres travelled by road. Rail freight (measured in tonne kilometres) has also increased by over 40% since 1995/6.
‘Of course we face the pressing challenges to reduce cost and improve performance, however these are as much a result of recent success as anything else’, says Adrian Lyons, Director General of The Railway Forum.
‘At the time of the last Election our industry was being written off by many, but fundamental and positive changes have occurred since then. We urge all political parties to support Britain’s railways and our millions of customers. The railways have shown they can reverse decades of decline. Now is the time to capitalise on this and maintain the momentum we have built up.’