Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lord McLoughlin and Jessica Morden

Thursday 4th December 2014 Commons Chamber

[Jessica Morden (Newport East) (Lab)]

9. What recent discussions his Department has had with FirstGroup on service performance on the Great Western main line.

[The Secretary of State for Transport (Mr Patrick McLoughlin)]

Officials hold meetings with First Great Western every four weeks to discuss franchise performance. Ministers and officials regularly meet senior figures from across the industry at a range of forums to discuss current issues, including performance. We have made it clear that we expect the industry to do its utmost to deliver the level of performance for which it is funded.

[Jessica Morden]

Will the Secretary of State ensure that the new Great Western main line franchise takes into account the very real present overcrowding problems in south-east Wales, and ensure that the operator provides an adequate number of carriages to service demand now and on future forecasts?

[Mr McLoughlin]

One of the things that I have done with that franchise is to make arrangements and instruct the operator, as it is doing, to convert first-class carriages into standard-class carriages. That will increase capacity a little on the line. The line has been very successful overall. In 2010-11, the number of passengers using the franchise was 90.5 million; on the latest figures available, for 2013-14, the number was 99.7 million. We are seeing such a rise across the whole rail franchise sector.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lord McLoughlin and Jessica Morden

Thursday 29th November 2012 Commons Chamber

[Mr McLoughlin]

I need proper notice of that question, but I will certainly write to my hon. Friend with the answer.

[Jessica Morden (Newport East) (Lab)]

Toll increases on the Severn bridge were announced last week. Businesses and commuters in my constituency feel that they are paying the highest tolls in the UK. What they would like to hear from the Government is that they will do what they can to help now, and that when the concession ends the tolls will be substantially reduced for local people, not considered a useful revenue stream for the Government. Will the Minister make that commitment?