New campaign for East Coast rail services

Barbara Follett MP joined leading politicians from across the UK to launch a new campaign to protect and improve rail services on the East Coast Main Line. The East Coast Rail Forum has been established for MPs and other stakeholders to put across their ideas and concerns to the bidders for the East Coast services now that the franchise is up for renewal.

The campaign has been launched after the current operator, GNER, handed back the franchise. The service is now being re-let by the Government.

Mrs Follett MP said: "This is a really important rail service for Stevenage and the surrounding area.  By joining together with other MPs from the route, we can ensure that local community interests are top of the agenda.  Whoever eventually runs the franchise, I want to see high quality services, good value for money and first-rate reliability.

The franchise consultation will close shortly and it is essential that all users of the East Coast Main Line ensure their voice is heard."

The Forum will shortly release further details its campaign plans, which will include a "select committee" style hearing by MPs in Westminster and hearings for stakeholders across the ICEC route. It will also ensure a coherent forum for stakeholder interests, putting the communities on the route in the driving seat, rather than the train operating companies.

The campaign will be co-coordinated by a steering group of MPs and other stakeholders and membership is open to regional bodies, businesses, local authorities and individual representatives served by the franchise.

The Forum can be contacted on eastcoastrailforum@yahoo.co.uk.

Notes
The East Coast Rail Forum aims to:

  • Bring together MPs, councillors, regional bodies and stakeholders from across the East Coast Main Line;
  • Set  the tone amongst bidders for the service level and quality that stakeholders expect;
  • Represent the views and expectations of stakeholders and passengers to bidders and the Department for Transport;
  • Influence and improve the bids of all operators so that whoever wins the franchise has the best offer for passengers.


Issued: 15.03.2007

Further information
Please contact Faye Bunch via the 'Contact' page, or by fax on 020 7219 1158.

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