Railway needs to be integrated, says MP

12.00.00am GMT Fri 11th Jan 2008

Train in station

The fragmentation of the railway system when British Rail was privatised has been criticised during a debate in the House of Commons by Colchester MP Bob Russell

Mr Russell - who on the first day Parliament returned after the Christmas break tabled a Question demanding that the Secretary of State for Transport should give a statement over the chaos rail travellers experienced at the beginning of the New Year - said that "the fragmentation of the railway industry has not helped the situation."

He suggested that if Britain had an integrated rail service then the serious problems which occurred at London Liverpool Street, when engineering works over-ran by more than a day, would not have happened.

Mr Russell further observed: "Where is the evidence that the separation of Network Rail from the operating companies is to the benefit of rail passengers?"

Liberal Democrat Mr Russell's Parliamentary Question to Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly asks "what steps she has taken to ascertain the reasons for the delay in the completion of works to the railway infrastructure near London Liverpool Street Station over the Christmas and New Year Holiday period."

Her Written Answer is due to be given today (Thursday), the earliest day when a "named day" Question tabled on Monday can be Answered.