RAC Foundation attacks rail investment

As ministers, in the light of taxpayers supporting banks to the tune of £850 billion, look at ways of cutting public spending, the RAC Foundation has launched a salvo against the rail industry claiming that rail travel is the preserve of the wealthy and increases social exclusion.

 Professor Stephen Glaister, director of the RAC Foundation, paints a doomsday scenario saying “By diverting funding – for both capital and maintenance projects – away from the road network, there is the very real risk that the less-well off will be hardest hit, as they are the ones who are least likely to travel by train and so will have to put up with increasing congestion and pothole-strewn highways.”

This is in contrast to research on social exclusion which shows that, with the rising cost of motoring, poor people are more likely to relinquish their cars and without good public transport their access to goods and services will be severely limited. Those that continue to own a car, and bear the significant costs that this entails, will be forced to cut back on non-transport spending which in turn entrenches their economic disadvantage.

London Overground service arrives at Imperial Wharf station. This new station has provided the local community with access to rail services, whereas before they had to rely on the bus. Picture: www.upmain.com