Liberal Democrat plans would double investment in railways in Suffolk

2.08.27pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 10th Aug 2007

The Liberal Democrats have launched new transport polices to create a zero carbon transport system by 2050.

The plans include a commitment to double investment in the railways to be paid for by introducing a toll on road freight and a charge for air flights within the UK.

The proposals potentially release £12 billion for spending on rail improvements in the next five years. Ordinary motorists would not be affected under these proposals, though the Liberal Democrats remain committed to reducing car journeys in the longer term.

Proposals include:

· Introducing a distance charge on road freight, related to weight and emissions, as an incentive to shift freight to rail, raising at least £600m a year.

· Establishing a new 'Future Transport Fund' to fund a programme of investment on our railways: removing bottlenecks, providing more trains and reopening lines.

· Backing new North-South and East-West high-speed rail lines to the best European standards to replace internal flights.

· Toughening new legal limits on the average emissions of new cars sold in the EU, to be reinforced with a steadily declining total that reaches zero by 2040.

· Introducing a new 'Climate Change Charge' on internal flights, except life-line routes, starting at £10 per ticket to help fund the 'Future Transport Fund,' which will generate at least £150m a year.

Commenting on the plans, Leader of Suffolk County Council's Liberal Democrats, Cllr Kathy Pollard said, "The railways are too important to have investment in them constrained by the government. These new proposals would see the 'Future Transport Fund' providing ring-fenced funding for the improvements that future generations need if we are to cut our carbon emissions. The recent government announcements on rail funding show that they intend to continue to fund rail works by putting up fares. This just isn't a sustainable way to encourage people off the roads and on to railways.

These plans will shift freight from road to rail; in Suffolk, this will mean less HGV movements on our rural roads and the A12 and the A14, reduced carbon emissions and an improved rail network. If freight can be taken off the roads and people can be convinced to swap plane journeys for high-speed rail, then we can really start to make a difference to our environment.

Rail is the key to cleaning up Britain's transport, not an added extra as ministers seem to think. The delay over Government funding for the Peterborough to Nuneaton Gauge enhancement works shows that the Government talks about investment in rail freight but doesn't come up with the money. The Liberal Democrat proposals will guarantee a regular source of funding for rail enhancement works in Suffolk and the UK."