Rail Reform command paper oral statement (DfT) 9th March 2012

Rt. Hon. Justine Greening MP
Transport Secretary

Opening remarks

With permission, Mr Speaker, I would like to make a statement on railways.
Our rail network matters… to our quality of our life… our national wellbeing… and our country’s future prosperity.
For this Government it’s a simple equation… good transport equals good economics.
But, too often, we find ourselves frustrated and disappointed when the cost, punctuality or comfort of rail travel don’t come up to scratch.
I believe that Government and the rail industry can and must do more for passengers and for taxpayers.
Of course, investment has a huge part to play.
That is why we’ve been investing in our transport infrastructure… because that’s one of the best ways to support business, generate growth and create jobs.
And, for rail, that has meant the biggest modernisation programme since the Victorian age with £18 billion invested in this spending period.
But Mr Speaker, it’s not enough only to invest in them… it’s also vital to make sure they are set up for success.
So today, I am setting out our plans to do precisely that, with the publication of our Rail Command Paper, entitled ‘Reforming our Railways: Putting the Customer First’.

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