Oral Answers to Questions

Duncan Hames Excerpts

Wednesday 18th January 2012 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

I remind the House that we are on the subject of the First Great Western franchise.

[Duncan Hames (Chippenham) (LD)]

Some of the cross-border services on the franchise run on the Cardiff to Portsmouth line, which in places suffers from severe overcrowding, as experienced by my constituents in Bradford on Avon. Will the Wales Office support our call for greater capacity on that cross-border route under the new franchise?

[Mr Jones]

My hon. Friend might be aware that extra capacity is being provided this year, with an additional 48 carriages that will provide 4,500 extra seats at peak times between London and south Wales.