U.K. unveils rail plan

Prime Minister Tony Blair's government unveiled a plan Monday to improve Britain's rail network, promising to spend about $48.3 billion by 2010. The new plan, published by the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA), calls for $33 billion in private spending. "This strategic plan marks a line in the sand; it is the point at which we say enough is enough and begin to deliver a railway fit for the 21st Century," wrote SRA Chairman Richard Bowker in the report. "The railroads must regain stability and the public's confidence if they are to attract the necessary private investment," said the SRA report. Planned improvements include 1,700 new cars on busy southeastern routes by 2004, $1.008 billion of track and signal improvements at 100 locations by 2007 and training for staff at a national rail academy.