LONDON'S Green Party MEP Jean Lambert today backed calls for the capital's creaking rail network to learn from other European rail systems - and reject any future liberalisation.
Mrs Lambert joined Greens from across the EU in voting against proposals - known as the Second Railway Package - for a far-reaching liberalisation of European railways.
She said: "The railway service in London is shameful - largely thanks to privatisation and the separation of railway infrastructure and train operators. The capital's commuters have endured terrible accidents - at Paddington and Potters Bar, for example - irregular and delayed services, insufficient space and are suffering ill-health as a result of what has become known as 'cattle-truck syndrome'.
"Europe needs a commitment to public investment in the railways
aimed at meeting customers' transport needs, easing congestion and cutting greenhouse
gas emissions caused by cars and aeroplanes. The experience of liberalisation
- here in the UK and in the Netherlands - has been a
disaster. The UK should
be learning from best practise elsewhere rather than exporting its disastrous
political mistakes."
The decision now rests with the Council of Ministers after MEPs rejected Green criticism of the proposals and voted to support them.
Mrs Lambert added: "The British Government appears to be learning the hard way that rail liberalisation has not worked - though it has taken Railtrack' s collapse to persuade them to listen to what commuters had been saying for years.
"It is up to the Government to persuade other EU members not to repeat the UK's mistakes at the Council of Ministers by listening to the voice of Greens across Europe - and its own experience."
ENDS
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