East Coast Main Line

Debate between Chris Grayling and Baroness Chapman of Darlington

Wednesday 16th May 2018 Commons Chamber

[Jenny Chapman (Darlington) (Lab)]

Franchising on this line has failed repeatedly. The Secretary of State could make himself incredibly popular in my constituency, which is the birthplace of the railways, if he just stood up, looked behind him and said, “My name is Chris Grayling, and I have just nationalised a rail line.”

[Chris Grayling]

I have just explained why I do not think nationalisation of our railways is the long-term answer: we just have to look across the channel and see the chaos there to understand that a trip back to the days of British Rail is not right for the future of the travelling public in this country, however much Opposition Members might want it.

Rail Update

Debate between Chris Grayling and Baroness Chapman of Darlington

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.