A NEW guide is launched today Monday 6 October 2003 to help campaigners in their fight for better train services.

How To Win...Rail Campaigns is packed with information, campaign tips and examples, and has the backing of TV star Michael Palin who is president of Transport 2000.

Jointly published by Railfuture, Friends of the Earth and Transport 2000, the guide draws on the experience of transport experts and seasoned campaigners in providing practical tips for improving rail services locally.

It is published in loose-leaf format to ensure it can easily be updated in the fast-moving world of railway policy. Campaigners will also be given an immediate opportunity to fight rail-funding cuts by writing to Transport Secretary Alistair Darling over recent cuts in the rail improvement fund.

Former Monty Python star Michael Palin said: Campaigners have had considerable success in getting essential improvements to rail services and long may they continue to do so. This How to Win guide by Friends of the Earth, Transport 2000 and Railfuture is long overdue and will encourage others to get involved by providing the skills and ammunition they need to make sure these vital services are protected and improved.

Friends of the Earth rail campaigner Richard Dyer, who is one of the authors of the guide, said: Britain's railways can and should be at the heart of a more environmentally friendly, integrated public transport system, providing a real alternative to the car. This guide cuts through the complexities of the rail system to provide campaigners with clear tactics on how to make a difference and win the sort of comfortable, reliable service passengers want, from getting cycle lockers on the platform, to a whole new station.

Commenting on the campaign to reverse the Government rail funding cuts, Railfuture campaigner Richard Pout, also an author of the guide, said: One important funding source for rail improvements is the Strategic Rail Authority's Rail Passenger Partnership scheme, but this has been frozen because of Government cuts. Rail campaigners can start their campaign straight away by writing to Alistair Darling and demand that it is re-instated."

How to Win... Rail Campaigns is part of a series of How to Win campaign guides produced by Friends of the Earth, and is available from Friends of the Earth publications department or can be ordered online at www.foe.co.uk

A complimentary review copy of the guide is available from the following link:

http://community.foe.co.uk/resource/how_to_campaign_guides/htw_rail.pdf

More information:

Mick Duncan at Transport 2000 on 020 7613 0743 extn 115 or mobile 07904 431959 or
Steve Hounsham at Transport 2000 on 020 7613 0743 extn 106 or mobile 07984 773468 or
Richard Dyer at Friends of the Earth on 0113 389 9960 or 07940 850328.