Commuters 'expect lasting chaos'

More than 70 per cent of rail commuters do not believe the Government can improve services before the next general election, a survey reveals today.

Asked who they thought would have the biggest impact on improving London's rail network, only two per cent named Transport Secretary Stephen Byers.

Almost 20 per cent of rail commuters in London are seriously considering driving to work to avoid strikes and delays, the independent survey from market research company MSB discovered.

But as many as 23 per cent said they sympathised most with the unions over recent industrial action on the railways. A total of 1,104 regular users of public transport in London were questioned for the survey, which also revealed that:

? 45 per cent disagreed and 28 per cent disagreed strongly with the suggestion that London's railways would be improved by the next election;

? Only three per cent strongly agreed and 23 per cent agreed that services would improve by then;

? 35 per cent thought the Government would have the biggest impact on improving rail services in the capital, while 18 per cent mentioned Mayor Ken Livingstone and 11 per cent said Railtrack;

? More than two thirds of respondents said they did not believe that transport in London was sufficiently high on the Government agenda;

? Recent rail strikes affected 44 per cent, losing each person an average of 15 hours' working time;

? 31 per cent said they had considered relocating to a job outside London in the last year to avoid train travel.

Responding to the survey, the Association of Train Operating Companies said: "It comes as no surprise that during the past two years, when railway performance suffered possibly the worst disruption in its 170-year history, a large number of commuters did consider alternative modes of transport."

The spokesman added: "While we are in no way complacent, it is encouraging that during this period rail travel continued to grow."