LIB DEMS CALL FOR COMMENTS FROM LOCAL RAIL USERS

11.17.06am GMT Wed 21st Jan 2004

Paul Keetch and Caroline Williams at Hereford train station

Lib Dem MP for Hereford Paul Keetch and Lib Dem Parliamentary candidate for Leominster Caroline Williams are calling on local rail customers to contact them with their comments on train services in the county.

Mr Keetch has written to the managing directors of all the companies operating services in the county asking what is being done to improve Herefordshire's rail system.

"I have had a good deal of correspondence in recent months about the train services in the county, in particular about trains from Birmingham to Hereford being turned back before they reach the city," Mr Keetch said.

"It is unfair to keep putting up prices if you have a rail system that can't even get passengers to their destination. Much of my constituency is not even well served by local stations. If people have to travel miles to get to Hereford Station then they have a right to expect a good service when they get there."

Caroline Williams commented: "The Tories messed up the rail system with their botched privatisation, and this Labour Government has failed to remedy the situation. I hope that by applying some pressure locally we can start to get some improvements."

Mr Keetch and Mrs Williams plan to try and meet train company bosses to discuss their concerns, and want to take a group of local rail users with them.

"I'm sure that many people have had good experiences on the trains," Mr Keetch said. "I regularly use the network in the county and on many occasions the service has been excellent. But there are some problems, particularly with the Central Trains service from Birmingham being terminated early.

"I would be grateful if anyone who has strong opinions about the rail system in the county could contact me or Caroline - the more information that is available, the better the chance of getting results."

Mrs Williams added: "If we can put a strong enough case to rail companies then they will have to look again at the service that is on offer."