From the
Daily Mail:
Ripping out seats would ease crowding on trains, suggests public pending watchdog
Removing seating and allowing more passengers to stand would help ease congestion on packed trains, the National Audit Office suggested today.
The public spending watchdog's report on rail passenger capacity recommended a 'reconfiguration' of carriages.
The idea will appeal to train companies because it would be a cost effective way to transport more people but is likely to anger passengers.
They would be reluctant to pay high train fares for a journey where they are even more unlikely to get a seat.
The suggestion also sparked fury from the unions, who claimed it would reduce trains to 'slow-moving, overcrowded cattle trucks'.
And it dismayed environmental campaigners, who claim it will make train travel less popular and conflicts with the coalition's pledge to create a green economy.
Richard Hebditch, campaigns director of the Campaign for Better Transport, said: 'When they were in opposition, the Conservatives rightly pushed the Labour government to deliver in full the 1,300 carriages which we need to tackle overcrowding. We still need those extra carriages. Our roads are still congested and we're not going to get people to switch to using the train if they can't get a seat.'
Bob Crow, general secretary of the RMT▸ transport union added: 'All the warm words of this new Government on a high-speed, green future for expanded rail travel are evaporating before our very eyes as transport is seen as a soft target for early cuts with the private companies given a green light to continue milking profits and subsidies which could be used to invest for the future. There is no question that this systematic undermining of rail budgets and rail safety makes another major disaster an inevitability and we will take whatever action is required to protect jobs, safe working conditions and the safety of the travelling public.'
The NAO report said: 'Reconfiguration of carriages can provide additional standing and overall capacity by removing some seats and changing their layout. The Department did not evaluate the cost-effectiveness of reconfiguring existing carriages, or vary its calculations of the carrying capacity of carriages to allow for high density stock. Transport for London has estimated that high density stock could accommodate up to 30 per cent more passengers than conventional stock.'
The suggestion, which also angered unions, could gain traction because Government spending cuts have already seen plans for 600 new carriages put on hold.
Transport Secretary Philip Hammond today ordered an 'urgent reappraisal' of the government's train carriage procurement programme.
He said each project would be 'rigorously re-assessed' to ensure it offered value for money for taxpayers.
In its report, the NAO warned Labour's plans to increase rail capacity might not give value for money and should be reassessed.
Labour promised 1,300 new carriages by 2012 to address overcrowding. By this March, only 526 had been delivered. It is thought only another 100 will be ready in time.
But the NAO questions whether they are needed because demand for train travel has fallen due to the recession while the cost of providing more carriages has risen.
The previous government's measures aimed at increasing capacity will not deliver as much as promised, it concluded.
It predicted it will be 15 per cent lower in London, with 99,000 extra passengers in the morning rush hour, and 25,500 fewer travelling into other English cities.
The report pointed out that passenger transport bosses in northern England feel they have been let down by the Government.
Demand for train travel has risen sharply in the past 15 years. There were 0.74billion journeys in 1994/5 but had soared to 1.27billion in 2008/9.
Mr Hammond said: 'The growth in passenger numbers has not materialised and costs have soared, leaving Labour's plans in tatters. The last Government claimed it had abolished boom and bust and seemed to believe that taxpayers' money grew on trees. This Government will act more responsibly. We inherit a situation where, according to the NAO, significantly fewer new trains will be delivered for the money committed than were promised to passengers. I announced on May 24 a pause in the rolling stock programme. This report makes clear that we need to go further and on the back of its findings I have ordered an urgent reappraisal of the whole programme. We will rigorously re-assess the business case for each procurement in the light of the changed circumstances, reviewing all the options, and will ensure that we deliver value for money for taxpayers.'
Amyas Morse, head of the National Audit Office, said: 'The Department for Transport used a broadly sound framework to develop plans for adding capacity to the rail network. These plans were developed in a stronger economic climate. However, we believe that it needs to implement these plans flexibly in light of current conditions, in order to protect value for money, and to be continually looking to drive down the costs of rail improvement works.'
Click on the map to explore geographics
