The Green Party in Herefordshire has long argued for a significant improvement in rail services and integrated bus and rail services. Our public transport services in this region are under-funded, not integrated and generally of poor quality and do not reach the quality standards that are the norm for rural public transport in Switzerland or urban public transport in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

The residents of this region have been asked to make suggestions to a rail franchise consultation for the West Midlands and we have responded with a clear list of what must be done to produce a long overdue upgrade of rail services in this area:

We want:

- An urban rail system for the Birmingham city region as good as Berlin or Vienna with total integration of high quality tram, bus and urban rail

- to scrap HS2 totally and re-allocate the £50 billion to projects both nationally and in the West Midlands.

- rail services in the UK brought under full, public, democratic control.

- An end to rip-off fare increases

- An electrified line from Newport (South Wales) to Crewe

- New rolling stock for the Marches line (Newport to Crewe) and eliminate overcrowding and increase bike carrying capacity

- These stations to get a guaranteed hourly service on the Marches line: Hereford, Leominster, Ludlow, Craven Arms, Church Stretton, and Shrewsbury

- All stations on the Hereford-Shrewsbury line to have bus services meeting trains as is the case in rural Switzerland.

Herefordshire is one of the most rural and sparsely populated counties, with among the lowest incomes in the country and more than 25% of people without a car. Bus services have been decimated, leaving many people isolated and unable to reach work and education. It is essential that rail services are improved and fully integrated with the remaining buses services.

Councillor Felicity Norman

Luston

North Herefordshire Green Party