Oral Answers to Questions

Cameron Thomas Excerpts

Thursday 8th January 2026 Commons Chamber

[Claire Young (Thornbury and Yate) (LD)]

3. What steps she is taking to improve railway services for passengers.

[Cameron Thomas (Tewkesbury) (LD)]

5. What steps she is taking to improve railway services for passengers.

[Dave Robertson (Lichfield) (Lab)]

9. What steps she is taking to improve passenger rail services.

--- Later in debate ---

[Keir Mather]

The hon. Lady is right to identify the importance of rail connectivity to economic growth in her part of the country. I reassure her that there are no plans to reduce the half-hourly service between Bristol and Gloucester, and I acknowledge the point she raises about Yate station, where performance has recently fallen behind Great Western Railway performance as a whole. I also reassure her that the Rail Minister is meeting with the managing directors of all train operators to address any instances of poor performance, so that we can level up the passenger experience, create economic opportunities and ensure that young people in her constituency can access the economic opportunities that they need.

[Cameron Thomas]

Good morning, Mr Speaker. In the early days after the election, I did not always cover myself in glory with the type of language I used to describe the state of GWR services between Paddington and Gloucestershire. Nevertheless, a year down the line, I still regularly have to stand in a corridor or aisle for hours on end, if I am able to board at all, and I know that my constituents have the same issues. Can the Minister tell me when we can expect things to get better?

[Keir Mather]

The hon. Member is a champion for his constituents, and nobody should have to face the sort of conditions that he describes. That is why I am pleased to say that the Railways Bill, which is soon to enter Committee, will create an independent passenger watchdog that will ensure minimum consumer standards for passengers on the railway, so that their travel can be an affordable, reliable, pleasant experience that matches how we would like our Great British Railways system to run.