A LOCAL MP has blasted a Government U-turn over plans to improve rail links between the South West and London.
David Laws, Liberal Democrat MP for the Yeovil constituency, has criticised the Government's decision not to dual-track all of the London-Exeter route used by South West Trains.
The Transport Minister has written to Mr Laws confirming that the Strategic Rail Authority has ditched plans to dual the line.
Large sections of the key Waterloo-Salisbury-Exeter route currently allow trains to travel in only one direction at a time.
The SRA had promised to make the route dual-track, so allowing trains to travel in both directions, in its 2000 proposals.
However, the SRA now claims that a dual-track system is unaffordable, due to complications in Railtrack administration and because South West Trains' franchise for that line has now been shortened. Mr Laws said: "I am astounded that the Government and the Strategic Rail Authority have again decided to ditch the twin-tracking plan for the Waterloo-Salisbury-Exeter route.
"This route is the most important rail line in the South West.
"It is absurd that the Government refuses to fund this basic piece of work and build a line which allows trains to travel in both directions.
"How much longer will the South West have to make do with a rail network for the 19th Century rather than the 21st Century?
"Yet again, the Government and the SRA have let down local passengers and left us with a rail system in which delays are endemic.
"I will continue to press the Government to modernise the rail network in the South West region.
"South West Trains will continue to run a slower and outdated service until dual-tracking is put in place."