HALL BACKS CAMPAIGN TO RE-OPEN VITAL TRAIN LINE, CALLING FOR A SHIFT FROM ROAD TO RAIL TRAVEL

MEP for Northumberland Fiona Hall has written a letter to Rail Minister Tom Harris MP ahead of his visit to the region, urging him to re-open the Ashington, Blyth and Tyne railway line for passenger use.

SENRUG, The South East Northumberland Rail User Group, has lobbied for the re-opening of the line and has sent a petition to Downing Street. SENRUG argues that a useable line would greatly improve investment and regeneration opportunities in the North East.

In her letter, Fiona has asked Mr Harris MP to consider re-opening the train line as a means to helping the UK lower its carbon emissions. Fiona believes that a shift from road to rail travel is particularly important given forthcoming EU mandatory targets to reduce CO2 emissions, which in the UK’s case are likely to require a CO2 reduction of 16% by 2020, in addition to CO2 cuts through the Emissions Trading Scheme.

If the UK is to meet its targets the Government will need to put in place measures to ease congestion and promote alternative means of transport such as the Ashington line, given that 93% of UK transport greenhouse gases come from road vehicles.

Speaking about the re-opening of the line to passengers, Fiona said: “Currently Ashington, Bedlington, Blyth and Newcastle are only joined together by road. I am convinced that the re-opening of the train line could not only bring great economic benefits to the area, but would go towards meeting the UK government’s commitment to reducing greenhouse gases."

For more information on SENRUG visit their web pages at http://www.senrug.co.uk/