Labour MEP and Heritage Railway Association (HRA) Vice President Brian Simpson has slammed UKIP for failing to support the Heritage Railways movement in the European Parliament.  UKIP MEP’s voted against amendments put down by Mr Simpson on behalf of the HRA exempting Heritage lines from the new EU Railway Safety Directive.  Fortunately Mr Simpson had secured other cross party support and his amendments were accepted by a large majority.

“By voting against my amendments UKIP have seriously let down our Heritage Railways movement in favour of their own narrow minded interests! said an angry Mr Simpson.  “Thankfully all other political parties supported what I was doing and I am very grateful for that support which meant we had a successful outcome.”

Without Brian Simpson’s amendments, all heritage Railways would have had to conform to exactly the same safety regulations on staffing, rolling stock maintenance and railway workshop operations as the mainline national railway companies.  His would have severely restricted their operational capability and raised operating costs significantly.

“Our Heritage Railway movement do an excellent job in preserving out industrial and railway heritage and by gaining this exemption we are helping them carry on this important work.  It is just a great pity that all of the UK MEP’s support us” said Mr Simpson.

With the success of the Simpson amendments all Heritage Railway operations on their own network will be exempt from the EU Directive.  Present national regulations will be all that is required including heritage operations on the mainline.

“The Heritage Railways faced a number of severe problems had my amendments failed.  Now despite UKIP’s votes, I can say that this is a good outcome for our great movement and I thank all those from other political parties who supported us in this vote” concluded Mr Simpson