West Coast Main Line must be regarded as priority

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 12th Dec 2003

West Midlands Euro-MP Liz Lynne has spoken out against today's announcement by the Rail Regulator to delay the upgrade on the West Coast Main Line by a further 12 months.

Commenting, Liz said:

"The government and the rail industry have failed to get a grip on the West Coast upgrade ever since it was first announced. The Rail Regulator believes that further delays will save money, yet the experience of the past few years is that delays and increases in costs go hand in hand.

"Yet the West Coast Main Line upgrade has been identified as one of the key transport priority projects receiving funding from the EU. When completed, it will connect the Midlands, Northern England and Scotland to the Channel Tunnel and mainland Europe, drastically increasing the opportunity for industry to export goods and travel opportunities for people.

"Putting the brakes on the upgrade is not merely an inconvenience for commuters, but a major obstruction to Britain's economic competitiveness. Furthermore, any transport increases will be forced onto the roads and the air, damaging the environment. We simply cannot afford to keep putting this project off."