George urges Transport Secretary to back Cornish rail bid

Local MP, Andrew George, is urging the Secretary of State for Transport to get behind a Cornish bid for rail investment.

Cornwall Council has been working alongside First Great Western, Network Rail and the Department for Transport on plans to upgrade the Sleeper Service and provide a new Train Care Centre in Penzance, which will include more than 50 jobs.

A private exhibition in Westminster is being held today (Thursday 8th May) to highlight the proposals and the Transport Secretary, Rt. Hon Patrick McLoughlin MP, will be attending the event.

Mr George said: “The least any Government can do is give Cornwall a fraction of the multi billion pound transport investment going into wealthy London and the South East. With £17 billion for Crossrail through London and another £50 billion for HS2 from London to the north if our services don’t get any investment the Penzance to Paddington service will look like a branch line.

“This is an excellent bid and the least that the Government can do. This is especially excellent news for Penzance as it places it at the fulcrum of the service.

“I have been involved in many discussions as this proposal has developed in recent months. I’m delighted that we have this opportunity to reinforce the message to the Transport Secretary today. What we need now is for the Government to get behind Cornwall’s rail bid.”

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