Mixed news for rail passengers

Rail passengers faced mixed news of service upgrades and fare rises in today's rail plan announcement by the Transport Secretary, Philip Hammond.  

Mr Hammond announced a national investment programme totalling £8bn for the British rail system, including provision of 2,000 extra carriages to ease overcrowding on popular routes and a programme of modernisation and electrification on selected lines.

Rail passengers will, however, be contributing to the costs of these improvements via an average fare rise of 6.2% in the new year.

It's not clear yet how Somerset and the South West will be affected by the planned changes, except that a decision on the planned electrification of the London Paddington - Swansea line has now been deferred to the new year. The cost of the project would be £1bn, but benefits would include greater comfort for passengers, reductions in fuel and maintenance costs of around 30-40% and reductions in CO2 emissions of 20-30%.

For more info see http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-11834531