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Press Release 1 March 2004

Commuters meet CAST.IRON

On Friday 27th February, CAST.IRON held a major all-day exhibition on the main platform of Cambridge Railway Station.

Jerry Alderson, one of CAST.IRON's Executives said, "Both WAGN and National Express, who operate rail services from the station, allowed us to hold the exhibition here today, for which we are grateful. It shows how much support there is in the rail industry for CAST.IRON's plans."

The exhibition ran from 6am to 9pm. Tim Phillips, CAST.IRON's Chairman said, "There is no doubt that nearly everyone supports the rail option for the Cambridge, St. Ives and Huntingdon route. Out of hundreds of people we spoke to, only one supported the Guided Bus. She passed by while we were setting up the exhibition. I am sure she would have agreed with us given a chance to talk, because everyone else did. I make that 99.8% support."

In spite of the bitter cold, hundreds of people stopped to sign our petition. These and many more pledged to oppose the Council's guided bus plans by writing to the government. We also handed out 'No Mis-Guided Bus' car stickers", added Mr Phillips.

Support came from many quarters: a Sheffield businessman welcomed the shortened journey times that the railway will provide. A Cambridge-based company delivered a letter to the exhibition by hand stating that they had refused to relocate to the Science Park because it had no station. Another Science Park professional had taken 45 minutes by bus to get to the station for his onward journey - because of the congestion in the City Centre. CAST.IRON's plans provide for a six-minute journey between the Science Park or the Regional College and Cambridge Station.

Mr Phillips urged everyone to oppose the £100m Guided Bus scheme, which he says, "delivers minimal benefit at the cost of destroying forever an essential railway link for this area and the wider region."

END OF PRESS RELEASE

EDITORS' NOTES ABOUT THIS PRESS RELEASE

People wishing to object to the Guided Bus proposals must write before the 2nd April 2004 to:

Secretary of State for Transport
Department for Transport
TWA Orders Unit, Zone 3/11
Great Minster House
76 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DR

More information about the grounds for objections can be found on the CAST.IRON website or by writing to:
CAST.IRON
St. Francis House
10 Newmarket Road
Cambridge
CB5 8DT.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

CAST.IRON will restore regular timetabled rail services to the dormant Cambridge to St. Ives railway line, creating Britain's first community commuter railway.

Details and full costings of CAST.IRON's plans were made public for the first time at a public meeting on 2nd December at the Holiday Inn, Impington, Cambridge and are now available by visiting www.castiron.org.uk/VisionDoc.php.