03 February 2006
Britain's graffiti and vandalism-scarred railway stations are in a 'deplorable state' and the Department for Transport must take urgent action, senior backbench MPs are demanding.
The Public Accounts Committee has launched a scathing attack on the department, the train operating companies and Network Rail for allowing stations to fall into such a poor state.
It says many are threatening places, poorly lit, under attack from vandals and with no staff on hand. The committee blames the legacy of privatisation, claiming that the sheer number of organisations involved in the industry has left them 'all at loggerheads about who is responsible for what'.
The MPs' report, published on February 2, singles out for criticism the original rail franchises awarded to the train operating companies.
It says these provided 'little incentive' for the companies to modernise stations, because they relied upon commercial incentives that did not materialise. As a result passengers' needs have taken a backseat.
'Passengers would like stations to be safe and secure, with staff and good quality information available [but] satisfaction remains low for medium sized and small stations. Passengers are most dissatisfied with upkeep, repair and personal safety,' the report says.
It also claims that more than half of Britain's stations are not fully accessible for the disabled or parents with children. A third do not have waiting rooms and 15% have no toilets.
PAC chair Edward Leigh is demanding that the DfT establish minimum standards of security and cleanliness for stations, and tries to find ways of incorporating these into existing franchises as well as including them in future agreements.
He also wants the department to come up with 'a coherent approach to attracting private investment in stations'.
'There is a whole lot that the DfT, now responsible for stations strategy, can and must do,' Leigh added. 'As it is, a large number of Britain's railway stations are a poor advertisement for our country.'
A spokeswoman for the DfT said: 'We invest £87m a week in the rail network, which supports the maintenance and enhancement of stations. The National Passenger Survey recorded improvements in satisfaction with the cleanliness, facilities and services at stations, but there is room for further improvement.'
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