Minister rolls into New Street

A multi-million pound improvement plan has been drawn up

Rail campaigners will press their case for improvements to Birmingham's New Street Station as Transport Minister Kim Howells embarks on a national tour examining rail performance.

He will arrive at New Street on Monday to discover how frontline staff are working to rebuild performance levels and the reputation of Britain's railways.

It will be the first in a series of visits to rail stations, control centres and signalling centres.

The Minister said he hopes the tour will enable him to discover what the problems are and what is being done to improve regional rail services.

Speaking at the start of his tour, Mr Howells said: "I will meet some of the people working daily to make a difference on the railway.

"I will ask them about concerns passengers have raised with me and if I think there are things that can be done better I will tell them."

Worst in Britain

Phil Davies, from the West Midlands Rail Passengers' Committee, said the need for investment to pay for the modernisation of New Street Station was at the heart of the region's rail problems.

He said: "Taking action will help Birmingham, it will help the region and it will help the whole country."

The Strategic Rail Authority unveiled plans for a multi-million pound transformation of New Street earlier this year, after the station was voted the worst in the UK in a BBC poll.

But the Authority made it clear at the time that the revamp of the station, used by more than 100,000 people every day, could not be carried out straight away as no money was available.

Mr Howells will visit four different areas on Britain's rail network.

He will meet regional Network Rail directors and speak to train operators, contractors and passengers.

He is set to visit Waterloo, Clapham Junction, Liverpool Street, Paddington and Swindon stations during the week.

Further dates are also being planned.