Improve rail

Campaign for Better Transport was formed in 1973 (under our old name, Transport 2000) to combat plans to drastically shrink the rail network. Happily, we helped to see off this devastating threat and turn around the fortunes of rail. We have been campaigning ever since for investment in rail, for the network to be expanded and journeys improved.

Did you know…

• Only 1.4 per cent of all transport carbon emissions come from rail
• For every £1 spent on the rail network, £2.50 is delivered in the wider economy

Campaign for Better Transport is working to improve rail, for passengers, communities and the environment.

Our campaigning is focused on…

Rail reform

The way the railways are run is changing. Rail operators are coming under public ownership. And, through its Railways Bill, the Government is bringing track and trains together under the control of a new public body, Great British Railways. We are campaigning to ensure that the Government’s programme of rail reform leads to a bigger, better network, for passengers, communities and the environment.

• Take our survey – tell us what you think are the main issues that the rail reform process should tackle.

Rail fares

We are campaigning for rail fares to be fair and affordable. Nobody who wants to travel sustainably by train should be prevented from doing so because it is cheaper to drive or fly. We also want train tickets to be simple to understand and easy to buy. As the Government’s programme of rail reform progresses, we are working to ensure that fares and ticketing are high up the agenda.

• Read our policy paper, Fix fares for good.

Rail investment

We highlight the economic benefits of rail, and campaign to expand and improve rail infrastructure. We want to see more people and more freight travelling easily by rail, and more communities connected to the network. That means new and reopened rail lines and stations, and upgrades including more electrification.

• Read our list of disused rail lines suggested for reopening.

International rail

Did you know, if you fly to Paris, your carbon footprint is 14 times more than if you take the train? International rail has great potential to tackle climate change. But at the moment, of the train paths available through the Channel Tunnel, less than 50 per cent of passenger capacity and ten per cent of freight capacity is being used. We are campaigning to improve and expand international rail, make it more affordable, and shift more journeys from plane to train.

• Read our report, Runways to Railways: unlocking the potential of the Channel Tunnel.