Proposals for rail improvements across London and the south-east were announced yesterday (January 21st), with officials aiming to increase capacity and offer a better service.

The plans involve the Department of Transport (Dft) and Transport for London (TfL) working together to usher in a new age of rail travel across the capital and the south-east - one designed to support the region's rail needs and local economy.

As part of the proposals, TfL would operate the majority of rail services within the Greater London boundary - a move that is hoped will deliver a smoother service that allows for integrated fares and greater accessibility.

London's transport commissioner Mike Brown said: "People want to live close to stations and they want those stations to have good quality frequent services connecting them to jobs and to leisure.

"Providing such services is vital to the future success of our city, yet at present there are wide variations in the levels of service customers' experience."

The capital population is set to rise by 1.4 million between 2016 and 2030. This, paired with population growth in the surrounding area, make it even more important to have a rail service that can support both job and housing growth, the government claims.