UK transport watchdog suggests overhaul of London rail tracks to beat the cold

David Quarmby, the UK government's transport troubleshooter, has suggested a radical overhaul of nearly 3,000 miles of track in the London commuter belt south of the Thames. The overhaul plan envisages inclusion of a heated third rail to ensure tracks do not freeze.

His proposals, however, are not part of current Department for Transport plans. According to analysts, the plans would entail a huge expenditure, which, commuters who have already been hit with the biggest fare rises in a generation would have to foot.

Anthony Smith, chief executive of Passenger Focus, an independent rail consumer watchdog, said a few days of disruption would be preferred by commuters rather than additional increases in the cost of commuting, which is expected to go up by 3 per cent above the retail price index. He added that it was needed to ensure that costs did not pile up.

"Passengers need to be asked about the balance of the cost of doing this weatherproofing of the railways, against the bill that will increasingly fall on rail users. Someone needs to ask what passengers want on this, not just government and industry.

"Would you rather have two or three days of disruption or would you rather pay 10 per cent more for your ticket to ensure it does not happen again? Heating the third rail is going to cost a fortune."

Quarmby first mooted the plan before Christmas when he produced an audit into how Britain had coped with the winter setting in.