Minister guarantees new services for local commuters

3.26.42pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 25th Jul 2007

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."