£15bn needed to stop commuter crush

Overcrowding is threatening London's economy says TfL

Overcrowded commuter trains are threatening London's position as a major international finance centre, says a transport chief.

The Government has been warned it needs to spend up to £15bn in the next decade to stop the crush on trains into the city reaching "Third World levels" by 2011.

Without the investment, punctuality and overcrowding is likely to get worse, said Peter Field from London Rail, a body set up by Transport for London to campaign for rail improvements.

He claimed worsening rail services could end up costing jobs across the country and threatening the tourist industry.

The money would avert a crisis and bring in billions of pounds for the UK's economy, he believes.

"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," he said.

His said every £1 spent on London's rail network created more than £4 in social benefits such as lower congestion, productivity and better health.

London Rail believes the number of people using rush hour public transport is growing at up to eight times the rate of those using cars making easing rail congestion an "urgent necessity".