Asked by: Harriet Harman (Labour - Camberwell and Peckham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much compensation has been paid to Southern Rail passengers in each of the last seven years; and what steps the Government is taking to provide Southern Rail passengers with information on how to claim compensation for delayed journeys.
Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
Details of how much compensation has been paid to Southern and Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) passengers for years 2009/10 through to 2015/16 can be found through the following link:
With regards to the steps the Government is taking to provide Southern Rail passengers with information on claiming compensation, GTR are contractually obligated to use all reasonable endeavours to make passengers aware of their right to claim compensation through a wide range of measures.
The number of eligible passengers claiming compensation has almost trebled over the past 3 years – up from 12% in 2013 to 35% this year.
This year the Government rolled out enhanced delay repay measures for GTR passengers that allow them to claim compensation when their train is 15 minutes late.
The Government’s full response on making claiming compensation easier can be found through the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-moves-to-make-rail-claiming-compensation-easier
Asked by: Harriet Harman (Labour - Camberwell and Peckham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to re-open Camberwell Station on the Thameslink Line.
Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Government is committed to improving access to rail services for passengers and will support proposals for new stations where these are commercially and operationally viable and deliver the quality service passengers want.
While we aware of the suggestion of reopening the station at Camberwell that closed in 1916, no formal proposal or plans have been received by the Department for Transport.
Asked by: Harriet Harman (Labour - Camberwell and Peckham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what proportion of Govia Thameslink trains have been late arriving at train stations in the London Borough of Southwark in each of the last seven years.
Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Department does not hold data on trains arriving late at specific stations.
Asked by: Harriet Harman (Labour - Camberwell and Peckham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what level of aircraft noise has been recorded in Camberwell and Peckham constituency in each of the last five years; and what assessment he has made of the effect of the addition of a third runway at Heathrow Airport on noise levels in that constituency in each of the five years after the expansion of that airport.
Answered by John Hayes
The Government does not record the level of aircraft noise in the Camberwell and Peckham constituency area. We do, however, expect airports to help local communities understand the noise impacts they are affected by, through appropriate noise monitoring and the provision of relevant information.
The Airports Commission used indicative flightpaths to assess the likely noise impacts of the Northwest Runway scheme. At this stage, it is not possible to identify the exact noise impacts on specific communities after expansion.
There is a thorough process for proposing airspace changes in the UK which will be followed alongside the planning process. It will be through the airspace change process that communities will see and be able to comment on the detailed proposals for new flightpaths.
Asked by: Harriet Harman (Labour - Camberwell and Peckham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to improve service for passengers on Southern Rail in 2017.
Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The most immediate improvement we wish to see is the unions calling off their futile strike action and work to rule. The Secretary of State has met with ASLEF, before they decided to strike. I again strongly urge both they and the RMT to get back round the negotiating table with the serious intention of actually resolving this dispute and to put passengers interests first.
We have brought in Chris Gibb to head a new project board, working with the train operator, Network Rail and the Department, to explore how to achieve a rapid improvement to services for the public on Southern and they have identified areas on which to focus. In addition, the Secretary of State recently announced that a further £300 million will be spent by Network Rail from their existing budget specifically to improve the infrastructure on this part of the network, which will consequently improve the service for those passengers.
Asked by: Harriet Harman (Labour - Camberwell and Peckham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has had discussions with Govia Thameslink Railway on the proposed timetable changes to services from Denmark Hill station from 2018.
Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
No such discussions have taken place. Govia Thameslink Railway are currently seeking stakeholders’ views on their proposals for the 2018 Thameslink timetable.
Asked by: Harriet Harman (Labour - Camberwell and Peckham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps have been taken to improve passenger safety at Peckham Rye Station in each of the last five years.
Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
Southern Railway, part of the Govia Thameslink Rail (GTR) franchise, is the Duty Holder responsible for maintaining a safe environment for passengers at Peckham Rye station.
The train operator and Network Rail have made a number of improvements to the station environment during the last five years, including longer waiting shelters to provide more space for passengers to get on and off trains, enhanced CCTV monitoring arrangements, and the introduction of “first to last” train staffing.
In 2010, Peckham Rye station was awarded “secure station” accreditation under the Secure Stations scheme managed by the British Transport Police and the Department for Transport. The station has maintained this status in subsequent years.
Asked by: Harriet Harman (Labour - Camberwell and Peckham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with Southern Railway on compensation for passengers using Southern Railway's Metro Line who have been affected by the regular disruption to rail services at London Bridge.
Answered by Claire Perry
To provide additional compensation above Passenger’s Charter arrangements to passengers affected by the essential works at London Bridge would place a large additional financial burden on this and future major projects which would in turn increase the cost to taxpayers.
Work is already underway on various options to improve compensation arrangements for passengers. The trial by c2c starting from early next year of an automated system providing compensation for delays of between 2 and 29 minutes is very welcome, and it is exactly the kind of compensation system that puts passengers at the centre of the railway. We will closely monitor its implementation to see if it has the potential to be rolled-out across new franchises.
Asked by: Harriet Harman (Labour - Camberwell and Peckham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Answer of 24 March 2015 to Question 228504, what progress he has made on considering the case for compensation for passengers using Southern Railway's Metro Line who have been affected by the regular disruption to rail services at London Bridge.
Answered by Claire Perry
To provide additional compensation above Passenger’s Charter arrangements to passengers affected by the essential works at London Bridge would place a large additional financial burden on this and future major projects which would in turn increase the cost to taxpayers.
Work is already underway on various options to improve compensation arrangements for passengers. The trial by c2c starting from early next year of an automated system providing compensation for delays of between 2 and 29 minutes is very welcome, and it is exactly the kind of compensation system that puts passengers at the centre of the railway. We will closely monitor its implementation to see if it has the potential to be rolled-out across new franchises.
Asked by: Harriet Harman (Labour - Camberwell and Peckham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the statement of 25 June 2015, Official Report, column 1067, on Network Rail, what assessment he has made of the potential effect the measures approved in this will have on plans for station improvements and step-free access for (a) Peckham Rye station and (b) Queens Road Peckham station in south London.
Answered by Lord McLoughlin
The lift to provide step free access at Queen’s Road was completed in early 2014. There is no reduction in the funding available for other station enhancements.