Again total spin and dare I say c**p from a DfT spokesman in the BBC report. 1000 extra carriages are NOT going to help this overcrowding in the regions, and which has been well publicised elsewhere, and will only marginally benefit commuters in the South East.

Until we can get Alexander to admit the treasury has forced the DfT to implement draconian cuts on the network are we going to get anywhere.

The evidence is becoming increasingly apparent that the DfT have totally ignored all Central and Local Government reports in the South West regarding the importance of the inter-regional network that this point should be the major argument if we are going to get anything done at all.

If a Government White Paper on the future of rail which praised a regional rail transport report, and which has also influenced the SW regional assembly can be dismissed by a few suits in London then where is the hope.