Railtrack cuts passenger prediction

Railtrack hopes improvements will win more passengers

Railtrack has cut its figure for predicted passenger growth on the railways from 47% in 10 years to 37%.

The figure was cut because of the government's decision to end the annual above-inflation rise in petrol and diesel taxes, according to Friday's Financial Times.

The new figure does not take into account the long-term drop in passenger numbers caused by the October derailment at Hatfield, north of London, in which four people died and 33 were injured, the report said.

But a Railtrack spokesman said the company was not altering its investment plan as it hopes improvement of the network will win more passengers.

We are in broad agreement that the levels of growth are going to be very high

Railtrack

The spokesman dismissed the newspaper's claim that lowered forecasts were a further blow to the government's battered transport policy.

"We are in broad agreement that the levels of growth are going to be very high," he said.

John Prescott said the government was still set to meet its target of a 50% increase in passenger numbers as part of its 10-year plan.

"We've already acheived an 18% increase," the deputy prime minister told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

On 12 December a report from the Commons transport select committee condemned Railtrack for losing sight of its responsibility and failing passengers.

"Railtrack has staggered from one crisis to another in recent years...because of systematic often-repeated failings in the management systems and leadership," it said.