Rail Update

Baroness Chapman of Darlington Excerpts

Monday 5th February 2018 Commons Chamber

[Jenny Chapman (Darlington) (Lab)]

On passenger satisfaction, is the Secretary of State aware that, this morning, every service on the east coast main line from my constituency to London was either delayed or cancelled? There is no competition on the line, and this is the third time the franchise has failed. Does he not understand that passengers and staff on the line just want certainty, and that is why they are keen on having a public sector body managing the franchise?

[Chris Grayling]

I do not know for certain the cause of this morning’s incident—

[Jenny Chapman]

Signalling.

[Chris Grayling]

Of course, signalling is the responsibility of the public sector Network Rail, so there is a gentle suggestion that the hon. Lady’s proposal may not be the all-encompassing panacea. What our signalling needs is what we are giving it, which is £20 billion of investment over the next four years to renew infrastructure that is old and, in many places, worn out. We are still dealing with the years of under-investment before this Government took office.