Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lord Haselhurst and Paul Maynard

Thursday 23rd February 2017 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Haselhurst (Saffron Walden) (Con)]

As most of East Anglia has a two-track railway at best, does my right hon. Friend accept that it is very difficult to reconcile the ambitions of the Mayor to have increased frequency services to inner London train stations while there is a growing need for faster services to Norwich, Chelmsford, Stansted airport and Cambridge, without providing extra track capacity at key points?

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Paul Maynard)]

My right hon. Friend is certainly right to observe that on any crowded part of the network—be it in the south-east or elsewhere—we have to make choices over the stations that are served. He rightly points out that that choice will involve outer stations in the south-east versus inner London stations. I can certainly assure him that this ministerial team is more than aware of those challenges, and I am sure my officials can benefit from his wisdom on this part of the network and look forward to his meeting with them.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lord Haselhurst and Paul Maynard

Thursday 12th January 2017 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Haselhurst (Saffron Walden) (Con)]

In view of the increasing number of passengers and employees using Stansted airport, the growth of the Cambridge biomedical campus, the prospect of Crossrail 2, the announcement of major housing developments and the welcome prospect of new, high-performance trains, what plans has my hon. Friend for increasing track capacity on the West Anglia line to take advantage of those factors?

[Paul Maynard]

My right hon. Friend is right to raise all those factors. He will know of the important work that the taskforce has done. We are also looking at timetabling, to which I hope he can make substantial contribution. He is right to raise the matter and we are looking at it very closely. Control period 6 announcements are on the way and I hope that his concerns will be reflected in them.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lord Haselhurst and Paul Maynard

Thursday 15th September 2016 Commons Chamber

[Paul Maynard]

I very much recognise that there are issues involving Southeastern. I am happy to meet Members from all parts of the House.

[Sir Alan Haselhurst (Saffron Walden) (Con)]

As the Government have committed to the development of Crossrail 2, will my hon. Friend give equal support to the construction of four-tracking on the West Anglia line, which is an integral part of it?

[Paul Maynard]

If that is a key part of my right hon. Friend’s forthcoming report, I look forward to reading all about it and discussing it with him.