To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he plans to take to reduce overcrowding on the rail network; and if he will make a statement. (228410)

The Government’s plans to increase capacity are set out in the rail White Paper “Delivering a Sustainable Railway” published on 24 July 2007 and available on the Department for Transport’s website

www.dft.gov.uk/about/strategy/whitepapers/whitepapercm7176/.

On top of the record sums already committed until 2009, the Government will invest a further £10 billion in delivering enhancements alone over the following five years. The Government plans the introduction of 1,300 new and additional rail vehicles onto the rail network in the period up to 2014. 423 new vehicles have already been ordered.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he plans to take to reduce overcrowding on the rail network; and if he will make a statement. (229347)

The Government’s plan to increase capacity are set out in the rail White Paper “Delivering a sustainable railway” published on 24 July 2007 and available on the Department for Transport’s website:

www.dft.gov.uk/about/strategy/whitepapers/whitepapercm7176/

On top of the record sums, already committed until 2009, the Government will invest a further £10 billion in delivering enhancements alone over the following five years. The Government plan the introduction of 1,300 new and additional rail vehicles onto the rail network in the period up to 2014. 423 new vehicles have already been ordered.