WE NEED RAIL LINES NOW SAY NORTH EAST LIB DEMS

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 16th Sep 2008

Liberal Democrats today unveiled their proposals for a transport system for the 21st century, on the penultimate day of the Bournemouth conference.

Plans include a programme of high speed rail links, thereby increasing the space and the capacity of connections between the North East and the rest of the country, combined with reducing the amount of carbon the UK produces through travel.

Fiona Hall, MEP for the North East, who strongly welcomed the proposals for high speed rail, "It is estimated that high speed rail lines could add some £3bn to the region's economy. What is more, high speed rail lines, as well as rail expansion schemes for local areas, including opening new lines, will make it easier to travel by rail, rather than plane or car and also therefore ring ig cuts in carbon emissions."

MP for Berwick on tweed, Sir Alan Beith, said "Investment in high speed rail lines would be a huge boost to the North East economy and will be needed to maintain the competitiveness of North East businesses."

Councillor Greg Stone, newly elected parliamentary candidate for Newcastle East - whose constituency would directly benefit from a high speed rail network said, "The argument for a high speed rail connection for the North East is indisputable, both in terms of the regional economy and also environmental sustainability.

"The North East has been let down by successive Conservative and Labour Governments on transport infrastructure investment. We were promised direct services to the continent via the tunnel and a regional rail freight terminal, not to mention the dualling of the A1 north of Dishforth, but have been ignored.

"We must not allow Labour to ignore the region's case for connection to the high speed rail network."

Liberal Democrats are also calling for more rail lines to re-open. Commenting on this part of the policy Fiona Hall said, "I particularly welcome plans to expand local rail networks, having campaigned hard for the re-instatement of, for example, Belford Station, the Ashington, Tyne and Blyth line, and the Leamside line".