West Coast Main Line

David Morris Excerpts

Monday 17th September 2012 Westminster Hall

[David Morris (Morecambe and Lunesdale) (Con)]

This subject has been so contentious during the past few weeks that we can all agree that some questions need to be answered. It is right, therefore, that we hold a debate to bring greater understanding of the issues that led to the decision to award the west coast main line franchise to FirstGroup. In discussions that I have had, I have always been clear that I remain neutral on who gets the franchise. What is important to me is that the process is transparent and understandable. Does it reassure the public and does it result in improvements and greater connectivity to the service? I am referring not just to the places that the west coast main line MPs represent, but to the areas that filter people to the stations. Most people do not have the time to study the process in great detail. I hope that this debate will help to create a greater understanding of it. The fact that we are having the debate sheds light on the process, and that is bound to make people feel more engaged.

I want to focus on the future of the west coast main line, especially given its importance to my constituency of Morecambe and Lunesdale. We are a transport corridor, both north to south and east to west. The station for the area of Carnforth has been rebuilt and has trains going through it. However, in the words of the train buffs in the area, it is the centre of the railway universe, but nothing seems to stop there. As I said, we are a transport corridor, both north to south and east to west. I appreciate that many hon. Members have one of those elements in their constituency, but we are lucky to have both. However, the lack of flexibility in the franchise over the years has made it hard for us to capitalise on that.

I have had regular meetings with Virgin, which has made the following points to me. It was hard to bring in new destinations. Even Chester was added only because the DFT put it in as a requirement. We need the train operating company—TOC for short—to be able to respond to the market.

One thing that has been positive about FirstGroup is its willingness to consider exceeding the terms of the franchise. We will see what that comes to, but the fact is that it helped it to get the franchise. I hope that in the future the franchise document serves as a starting point, as my hon. Friend the Member for Shrewsbury and Atcham (Daniel Kawczynski) was intimating, and that bids will offer real choice rather than being minor variations on something essentially dictated from Whitehall.

One of the big concerns in my constituency is that the DFT seemed unable to think beyond existing network capacity. What I mean is that getting the most out of Euston was widely discussed, but little thought seemed to go into adding new destinations and connections. That was particularly important because it meant that Carnforth, in my constituency, was just never considered as part of the franchise, despite vigorous local campaigns spearheaded both by me and by the local rail groups. I refer in particular to Peter Yates, who is sat here today.

Obviously, many hon. Members have local interests, and I am no different. I understand that not every station can get a west coast stop, but feeling that no new stops were considered is frustrating. I might also say at this stage that the same problem of lack of vision has led to unending difficulties in trying to stop trans-Pennine trains at Carnforth. The platforms themselves are on the west coast main line and would need refurbishment before they could be reopened.

Historically, this essentially minor detail was something that led to Carnforth being totally ignored. If the public want the station opened and if the TOC would seriously consider stopping there, why would Whitehall stand in the way, especially if that is from a background of never really bothering to consider it anyway? As I said, I had talks with Virgin. It said to me, with regard to the west coast main line train that stops for 20 minutes three times a day at the back of Carnforth station, where there is a sealed-up platform entrance, that it would consider accessing passengers on to the train if the station was upgraded. I am glad to say today that I had the same offer from, and more consideration given to me by, FirstGroup. Whatever people thought the outcome of the franchise process should have been, at least we have started the process of breaking that mindset in my area. To that end, whatever FirstGroup’s history, it seems keen to adapt to passenger need, which must be looked into. If the DFT is also willing to think outside the box, I hope that, in summing up how the franchise was awarded, we can too.

I accept that Rome was not built in a day and things do not change overnight. There are strengths and weaknesses in both Virgin and FirstGroup, but what is most important is that no company has a right to a free ride. That has been agreed. Just because companies have been good in the past, does that give them an open-ended right? If we have learned anything from this, we should insist that the DFT facilitates companies and travellers to come up with new ideas, rather than dictating from on high how services should be run. If we continue with such a process, it will be easier to tender, offer the missing flexibility and give local communities a real opportunity to campaign for better rail services, as my hon. Friend the Member for Shrewsbury and Atcham has done so admirably.

It has been a privilege to speak in this very contentious debate. Whatever the outcome, let us ensure that we make the right decision on the franchise, and that that decision is transparent and that the public know that we, in Parliament, listen and care about how we spend taxpayers’ money on the west coast main line.