In a private meeting today with Vincent Cable MP and Ed Davey MP, Ruth Kelly, the Transport Secretary confirmed, following her statement in Parliament yesterday that;
a) Waterloo International will be converted to take Windsor line Southwest Trains services as from December next year (2008).
b) Trains on the Windsor line services will expand from 8 to 10 carriages over the next 5 to 6 years.
Vincent Cable, MP for Twickenham, said:
"The three local Lib Dem MPs have worked together to campaign for these improvements and I am delighted that they are going ahead.
Many local commuters travel in totally unacceptable conditions, with standing room only. I know because I travel into parliament daily on peak hour trains.
There will continue to be pressure on capacity but we now have a realistic prospect of improvements in frequency and reliability and a reduction in overcrowding."