"TRAINS NOT SHOPS"
Davey revs up new campaign for better local train services

1.06.05

Davey meets SWT in battle for Waterloo platforms & wins meeting with Transport Minister

As part of his new campaign to secure better train services for local commuters, Edward Davey, Lib Dem MP for Kingston and Surbiton, has met with top management at South West Trains and is set to meet the Transport Minister shortly.

The campaign "Trains not Shops" aims to ensure the 5 platforms at Waterloo International, freed up when Eurostar moves to St Pancras in 2007, are earmarked for the use of train commuters on current routes into Waterloo, and are not turned into a new shopping and office development.

Commenting on the meeting, MP Edward Davey said:

"Getting 5 extra platforms for commuter trains into Waterloo is a once in a generation opportunity to improve our local train services. Ideas for turning the 5 platforms into office and shop space must be stopped. We want trains not shops.

"So I was grateful for South West Trains for meeting me so soon after the election. I'm delighted SWT could confirm that using the platforms being vacated by Eurostar in 2007 could help them improve their train services.

"Potential benefits from 5 extra platforms include fewer delays outside Waterloo, especially in the peak, faster journey times, more services and less overcrowding.

"Working with Susan Kramer, the new Lib Dem MP for Richmond Park, I'm drawing up a plan of action for this campaign. I'm now due to meet the Transport Minister shortly and am pushing for a range of meetings with key officials and groups.

"Local commuters have put up with too many delays, too many cancellations and too much overcrowding for far too long. It would be madness to see this precious railway infrastructure turned into shops and would be a betrayal not just of today's commuters but of generations to come."