Funds plea from rail body

Passengers are warned that services could get even busier

The Strategic Rail Authority is calling on the government to reaffirm its support for Britain's railways - as it prepares to ask for billions of pounds of extra public money.

In a new report, the rail co-ordinating body says there is almost no-one who fails to benefit from a well-run rail network, and outlines the vital role of rail in leisure, work and industry.

Mindful that the government will consider future funding for the railways in its spending review next year, the report also warns that more money will be needed.

But Transport Secretary Alistair Darling replied with a stark warning that the rail industry "needs to live within its means, like any other business".

It's very easy to get into Victor Meldrew mode but let's face it, all of us know we need to do better Transport Secretary Alistair Darling

He was responding at a London conference titled Why Rail Is Important, at which the SRA launched its new report.

The minister told delegates huge investment could only be justified "if two fundamental issues are tackled".

"Performance has got to improve and costs have got to come down."

Overload

In 'Everyone's Railway: The Wider Case for Rail' - a glossy brochure aimed at both the government and the public - the SRA stresses the vital social and economic roles played by decent train services.

We will make the case for investment with rigorous analysis, not a begging bowl SRA chairman Richard Bowker

Many businesses rely on the rail network to bring employees to work, it says, and 75% of our electricity is generated using coal brought by rail.

But the SRA warns that fresh problems loom - pointing in particular to mainline rail routes between the north and south, which it says will be overloaded within 15 years.

Launching the document on Thursday, SRA chairman Richard Bowker said: "We will make the case for investment with rigorous analysis, not a begging bowl. Everyone's Railway is the start of that process."

Mr Darling countered that, although he would do his bit, "the rail industry has got to do more - providing choice, driving up quality, crucially providing reliable services, sorting out problems".

Reliability was important, he said. "It's obvious stuff - but all too often it doesn't happen. It's very easy to get into Victor Meldrew mode but let's face it, all of us know we need to do better."

London's 'stark choice'

Meanwhile, a director at London Rail - a division of Transport for London - warned overcrowding on trains into London threatened to reach crisis levels by the year 2011 without heavy investment.

"The options for the nation are stark and simple - either suppress London's economic growth and face the consequences or invest in its rail infrastructure and the future prosperity of London and the UK," said Peter Field.

Mr Field said £15bn needed to be invested over the next decade.

However, he also unveiled calculations demonstrating that every £1 spent on London's rail network created more than £4 in social benefits such as lower congestion, productivity and better health.