Asked by: Abena Oppong-Asare (Labour - Erith and Thamesmead)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department gave Southeastern Railway a formal written derogation to not consult on their December 2022 train timetable changes.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
On 5 August 2022, the Department issued Southeastern with a formal derogation against the requirement to undertake a consultation exercise in respect of its December 2022 timetable changes.
Asked by: Abena Oppong-Asare (Labour - Erith and Thamesmead)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether rail operators are required to consult the public prior to train timetable changes.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Train operators contracted by the Department are normally required to consult on material timetable changes. However, where operators are unable to offer meaningful consultation, they may request a derogation from the requirement to consult.
Asked by: Abena Oppong-Asare (Labour - Erith and Thamesmead)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of rail operators changing timetables without formal public consultation on rail passengers.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
I refer the Hon. Member to the Answer given to her on 7 November 2022 , to Written Question 76144.
Asked by: Abena Oppong-Asare (Labour - Erith and Thamesmead)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of rail operators changing timetables without formal public consultation on rail passengers.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
As the pandemic has changed travel habits, operators have had to rapidly reassess their services to provide timetables that meet new passenger travel patterns, are fit for the future, and carefully balance cost, capacity and performance. This has constrained the timescales to conduct traditional consultations; however train operators have been working closely with local markets and stakeholders, including passenger groups, Members of Parliament, and local and mayoral authorities, to find the best solution to the needs of the local community and run reliable services within existing operational constraints.
The new timetables are demand-led and built with flexibility in mind, so if passenger numbers increase as we continue to recover from the pandemic, we can look to accommodate additional services. Where operators have modified their timetables, the changes will be kept under review and, where appropriate, adjusted to reflect fluctuations in demand.
Asked by: Abena Oppong-Asare (Labour - Erith and Thamesmead)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether it remains his Department's policy to rebuild trust in Southeastern Railway; and if he will make statement.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Department has tasked Southeastern with prioritising the delivery of punctual, reliable services that passengers deserve carefully balancing cost, capacity and performance.
Asked by: Abena Oppong-Asare (Labour - Erith and Thamesmead)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many trains on the Woolwich line stop at Erith station between 7.00am and 9.30am; and how many trains destined for (a) Charing Cross and (b) Cannon Street will stop at Erith station between those times after 11 December 2022.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Under the current May 2022 timetable, there are 14 passenger services in each direction that stop at Erith between 0700 and 0930 on weekdays. Of the London bound services; Nine are for London Cannon Street via Abbey Wood and five are for London Charing Cross. After 11 December, there will be 12 services in each direction to/from London Cannon Street via London Bridge between 0700 and 0930.
Asked by: Abena Oppong-Asare (Labour - Erith and Thamesmead)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has had discussions with representatives of Southeastern Railway on the potential merits of step free access at Erith station.
Answered by Wendy Morton
I have recently launched the next round of nominations for the Access for All programme. All stations in Great Britain without step-free access will be a potential candidate. I would encourage the Hon Member for Erith And Thamesmead to engage with Southeastern to demonstrate that Erith station is a priority.
Asked by: Abena Oppong-Asare (Labour - Erith and Thamesmead)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when the nomination process for the next round of the Access for All programme will open.
Answered by Wendy Morton
Nominations for the next round of Access for All (AfA) funding were formally commissioned on 17 June with a deadline of 16 September. Any station in Great Britain without an accessible route into the station and to all platforms will be a potential candidate.
Asked by: Abena Oppong-Asare (Labour - Erith and Thamesmead)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, on what dates he or other Ministers in his Department met with officials from the RMT union in the last 12 months.
Answered by Wendy Morton
Ministers and officials regularly meet with the RMT on a variety of matters.
Asked by: Abena Oppong-Asare (Labour - Erith and Thamesmead)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, on what date he first became aware of the likelihood of a nation-wide rail strike occurring in June 2022.
Answered by Wendy Morton
The RMT notified employers of the strike action on 7 June.