FUTURE TORY GOVERNMENT TO SLASH LOCAL RAIL IMPROVEMENTS!

Plans by the Conservatives to slash improvements to rail services have sparked calls by the Liberal Democrats in Darwen for better rail services for local commuters.

The Conservatives claim they want to start building a new high speed rail network to link up some English cities but the plans won't even start until 2015. They admit they will pay for it by slashing the cash planned to go into improving the existing rail system.

Darwen's LibDem Parliamentary candidate - Dale Mulgrew added, 'Commuters in Darwen already have to put up with trains that are bursting at the seams and are often delayed because the system can't cope.'

He continued, 'The Conservatives just don't understand that whilst a high speed intercity rail system is needed, it should not be at the cost of local commuter services. This is a case of the Conservatives robbing commuter Peter to pay intercity travelling Paul.'

'Liberal Democrats however, have found the extra funding needed to build the new high speed rail system. We will put road charges on heavy lorries and on polluting internal air flights.'

'Unlike the Conservatives, we will not take away from local Darwen commuters the vital improvements needed to raise the standard of local rail services.'

Deputy leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council and LibDem group chief - David Foster concluded, 'Currently we are trying to get sections of the Darwen to Manchester line double tracked, as the single track limits capacity.'

'We have worked hard to raise this as a major obstacle to overcome if we are to make improvements for rail commuters in Darwen. It looks as though we could be successful with this, but if the Conservatives plans on rail are true then this would place our proposals in jeopardy.'