Series of public meetings set for November and December

CAST.IRON - the Cambridge And St. Ives Railway Organisation - is to host a
series of public meetings to present the case for returning rail services to
the line. There will be five events at venues along the route and the final
presentation will include an invitation-only session for local and national
politicians, planners, railway professionals, industry leaders, the media
and opinion-formers prior to a public meeting in the evening.

Mr Phillips said, "The first County Council vote in September scraped in
with 30 out of 58 in favour of the guided bus scheme. We only need to
demonstrate to a few of these that rail is available and viable and the
abstainers will follow. There must be a majority of the full council for the
application to go ahead. Now that there really is a cast iron case for rail,
we expect the December vote to fail".

"We know that many local and national politicians already have serious
misgivings about destroying a potentially vital rail route for the sake of
an isolated and untested 'rapid transit' scheme", said Phillips, who will be
the principal speaker at all the meetings. "Some of them are wedded to the
guided bus idea, some prefer rail as long as it is viable, some want rail at
any cost and some remain to be convinced either way. Our meetings and
exhibitions will swing the last three groups.and with a bit of luck, we'll
convert a few from the first group as well!"

In early October, officers were appointed to 41 posts within the CAST.IRON
organisation although a lot of work had already been done by that stage.
Officers will be available at the meetings to answer questions.

meetings will all start at 7.30pm with public access from 7pm, except
the last one where commuters will be able to drop in any time after 5pm.

Tuesday 4th November - CAMBRIDGE
Manor Community College, Arbury Road in Main Hall
Public access from 7.15pm; meeting starts 7.30pm

Tuesday 11th November - HISTON
Junior School, The Green
Public access from 7.15pm; meeting starts 7.30pm

Wednesday 19th November - SWAVESEY
Village College, Gibralta Lane
Public access from 7.15pm; meeting starts 7.30pm

Tuesday 25th November - ST. IVES
St.Ivo Centre, Westwood Road, St Ives in Burgess Hall
Public access from 7.15pm; meeting starts 7.30pm

Tuesday 2nd December - IMPINGTON
Holiday Inn, Cambridge Road
Private presentations 1pm-4pm; public access from 5pm; meeting starts 7.30pm

A general overview of CAST.IRON plans can be found on the website,
www.castiron.org.uk