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Last Updated: Saturday, 17 December 2005, 17:25 GMT
Assembly voices rail service fear
Inside of a First Great Western train
Rail travel in the region is increasing by more than 5% each year
Rail services to the South West could be frozen for 40 years if government plans are approved.

The warning comes from the regional assembly and refers to new legislation to protect rail improvements in London.

The Crossrail project is expected to affect journeys into Reading and Paddington for about six years while construction is under way.

But the assembly claims new plans will leave little scope for expansion of South West services until 2045.

The need to work with the London project has been agreed by the First group which has just won the new greater western rail franchise that covers services in Devon and Cornwall.

The assembly says the bill must include capacity for growth outside the capital especially because South West rail travel is currently increasing between 5% and 10% each year.


SEE ALSO:
FirstGroup wins rail franchises
13 Dec 05 |  Business
Views sought on rail franchise
10 Jan 05 |  Bristol/Somerset


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