Prescott promises rail bill

London - Tough new powers to force Railtrack and the train operating companies to invest more in trains, track, stations and …

London - Tough new powers to force Railtrack and the train operating companies to invest more in trains, track, stations and signalling will be placed before the British parliament within days, the Deputy Prime Minister, Mr John Prescott, said. A bill will be introduced to put the Strategic Rail Authority, which exists in "shadow" form, on a statutory footing, he said. "I can tell you that this Bill will now be with us, certainly before the summer, in a matter of days rather than weeks."