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02/02/2006
Britain's railway stations criticised in report
Many of Britain's railway stations have been criticised as a "poor advertisement" for the country, an MPs report has claimed.
The report, by the Public Accounts Committee, said that many small and medium-sized stations in the UK were "threatening places", with "poorly lit, graffiti-covered passages and platforms."
One third of larger stations in England and Wales were found to have no waiting rooms. Around 15% had no toilets.
More than half of all British stations were also not fully accessible to the disabled and parents with young children.
The report also said that not enough train operating companies had joined national crime reduction schemes, despite research indicating that they could increase passenger numbers by as much as 11%.
MPs suggested that the number of bodies involved in maintaining and improving stations had led to a "fragmented approach", which was lacking overall leadership and strategic focus.
Network Rail, which operates most of the UK's 2,507 stations, was also criticised in the report for its "unduly complicated and inflexible."
However, a Network Rail spokesperson said that almost £400 million had been invested in its 17 major stations over the past five years. They also said that work was under way to ease collaboration between organisations and to add in up to £4 billion of investment from property developers.
The report said that the Department for Transport needed to set new standards for station maintenance.
A Department for Transport spokesperson said that £87 million was invested every week in the UK's rail network.
(KMcA)
The report, by the Public Accounts Committee, said that many small and medium-sized stations in the UK were "threatening places", with "poorly lit, graffiti-covered passages and platforms."
One third of larger stations in England and Wales were found to have no waiting rooms. Around 15% had no toilets.
More than half of all British stations were also not fully accessible to the disabled and parents with young children.
The report also said that not enough train operating companies had joined national crime reduction schemes, despite research indicating that they could increase passenger numbers by as much as 11%.
MPs suggested that the number of bodies involved in maintaining and improving stations had led to a "fragmented approach", which was lacking overall leadership and strategic focus.
Network Rail, which operates most of the UK's 2,507 stations, was also criticised in the report for its "unduly complicated and inflexible."
However, a Network Rail spokesperson said that almost £400 million had been invested in its 17 major stations over the past five years. They also said that work was under way to ease collaboration between organisations and to add in up to £4 billion of investment from property developers.
The report said that the Department for Transport needed to set new standards for station maintenance.
A Department for Transport spokesperson said that £87 million was invested every week in the UK's rail network.
(KMcA)
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