Oral Answers to Questions

Alex Norris Excerpts

Thursday 11th October 2018 Commons Chamber

[Joseph Johnson]

We are investing in new rolling stock, not just across the north of England with all trains there being either replaced or fully refurbished, but also on the midland main line, where new trains will be coming in from 2022 onwards. These will be efficient, environmentally friendly, bi-mode trains of the most innovative kind anywhere in Europe.

[Alex Norris (Nottingham North) (Lab/Co-op)]

6. What steps he is taking in response to the reduction in the number of rail users.

[The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Joseph Johnson)]

After a decade of sustained growth in passenger numbers across Great Britain between 2004 and 2014, averaging at about 5% growth every year, journey growth slowed to under 1% in 2016-17 and fell by around 1% in 2017-18. However, there was growth of about 3% in passenger numbers in the first quarter of 2018-19.

[Alex Norris]

Since 2010, fares have risen at double the rate of wages. What assurances can Ministers give me that there will not be a reduction in rail usage from poorer communities such as mine as people are increasingly priced out?

[Joseph Johnson]

Passenger numbers have more than doubled in the period of privatised operation of fares. This has happened in an environment in which the Government have frozen fares in real terms for the past six years, and we will be doing so again for the coming financial year. Fares rose by 20% in real terms under the Labour Government. By contrast, they have risen by 2% in the period since 2010.

--- Later in debate ---

[The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Joseph Johnson)]

Of course I should be delighted to meet my hon. Friend. Let me just add that the new West Midlands franchise serving Telford will in future introduce greater capacity on lines serving her constituency.

[Alex Norris (Nottingham North) (Lab/Co-op)]

T4. What role do Ministers see for sub-national transport bodies such as Midlands Connect in the prioritising of investment in our major road network?

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Jesse Norman)]

We work closely with the sub-national transport bodies, which can be rather helpful in assessing local demand and local needs across a region.