2008 press releases

Local MP launches transport policy

Local Lib Dem MP and Shadow Transport Secretary Norman Baker today launched a policy paper containing radical transport proposals to significantly increase long-term rail investment and make a number of improvements to the railways, including the re-instatement of the Lewes-Uckfield line.

Getting the Lewes-Uckfield line working again and implementing the other rail improvements outlined in the paper will be paid for by introducing emissions-linked charges on road freight and internal flights.

Other proposals in the paper include:

• Cutting fuel duty by 6p a litre and abolishing VED and introducing a road user pricing scheme on motorways and trunk roads, on a revenue neutral basis
• Building a high speed rail network paid for by introducing emissions-linked charges on road freight and internal flights
• Introducing rolling contracts for train operating companies, such as Southern, to increase long-term investment and improve services
• Giving more powers to control local bus services back to local authorities
• Introducing a new fund for rural transport in counties like East Sussex
• Giving passengers a stronger voice to improve local transport services through a new passenger watchdog.

Commenting further, Norman Baker said:

"I am very pleased to be able to launch this paper which makes a real commitment to long-term rail investment and identifies a number of improvements that the Lib Dems would make to the railway including the reinstatement of the Lewes-Uckfield line.

"The case for re-opening the Lewes-Uckfield line is overwhelming. It is clear that the line would have huge significant social, economic and environmental benefits for local people, but the Government has been blindly building scores of new roads at the expense of the development of the railway.

"With the Government's 30-year plan for the railways terminating inexplicably in 2014, these are the only concrete proposals to come from any political party to build a transport system fit for the 21st century."

See more at this page.

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