Better public transport is crucial to our economy, our quality of life and our battle against climate change. So Martin has made fighting for better local railway services one of his top priorities as an MP.  He now chairs the Liberal Democrat parliamentary committee on transport and so has a crucial role in influencing coalition government policy.

Martin led the opposition to Gloucestershire County Council’s plan for a Gloucester Parkway station between Cheltenham and Gloucester when it became clear that it was based on taking services away from Cheltenham Spa. He was backed by environmentalists like Jonathan Porritt, local politicians of all parties and many residents and businesses in Cheltenham and Gloucester too. As a result of Martin’s campaign, the plan was shelved by the Department for Transport.  he is now backing new investment in Cheltenham Spa station and a future development that would improve parking, access for public transport and bikes, make better commercial use of the site and meet the concerns of the station's neighbours.

Instead Martin has campaigned for the much improved service that would be delivered by redoubling the Swindon to Kemble line. Two lines on this key route would allow more direct trains from Cheltenham to Swindon, Reading and London and give the whole region a more reliable railway service because trains would be able to overtake delayed or stopped services. Martin and fellow MPs of all parties won the backing of the last governmentfor the scheme but the catastrophic state of public finances left by that government has put the scheme in doubt again.  Martin has lobbied railways minister Teresa Villiers and Transport Secretary Philip Hammond personally on the issue.

Working with Cheltenham’s Chamber of Commerce, Martin has also backed a longer-term plan to build a Gloucestershire light rail network linking, Gloucester, Cheltenham town centre, the racecourse, Bishop’s Cleeve and perhaps even Stratford. This would be a convenient, reliable and low-impact network using routes like the old Honeybourne line.