Local MP and member of the influential Commons Transport Committee, Angela Smith, has added her support to a parliamentary motion highlighting the extent to which British business and the economy rely on rail.

The motion, which has been laid in Parliament as the Government begins to make decisions about spending cuts, calls on the Government to recognise that more people are now travelling by rail ever before and that major rail improvement projects boost the economy.

Every year 1 billion of the 1.3 billion passenger journeys made by rail are people commuting or travelling for business. Rail freight also transports 100 million tonnes of goods every year worth £30 billion.

In 25 years time there are expected to be 80% more people commuting by rail and freight demand is forecast to be up by 70%.

Commenting Angela Said:
"People in Penistone & Stocksbridge rely on rail. It gets them to and from work and allows leisure journeys too. Even those who are not regular passengers reap the benefit of less congestion and the vital role rail freight plays in transporting everyday goods and fuelling the economy."

She further added;
"We all know there are tough spending decisions to be made in the coming weeks and months but its is vital that the government does not make cuts to rail investment that could damage the local and national economy by not enabling growth. This is why I am pleased to have been able to add my name to this parliamentary motion."