Rail Timetabling Debate

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Department: Department for Transport

Rail Timetabling

Jeremy Quin Excerpts
Monday 4th June 2018

(6 years, 5 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Lord Grayling Portrait Chris Grayling
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The Labour party keeps saying that it wants the Government to run the railways. We do not at the moment. The temporary Northern timetable has been put in place this week. Some adjustment of rosters is taking place right now. I hope and believe that by the middle of the week, we will return to a point of stability, with a lower level of cancellations than today and tomorrow and getting back to a reasonably dependable timetable within a day or two. That is what I am expecting, that is what we have been promised, and that is what we will be demanding of Northern Rail.

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Jeremy Quin Portrait Jeremy Quin
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To reassure you, Mr Speaker, an hour’s wait is sadly not unusual for Horsham right now. I wish we were getting back to a far more regular service. Significant investment has been put into our line, which was meant to result in a far better service for our commuters. I welcome an independent inquiry to find out what on earth has gone wrong, but in the meantime, can we at least ensure that where there are fewer, busier trains, they are not short-form, so that people can get on them?

Lord Grayling Portrait Chris Grayling
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That has to be dealt with, and we will communicate that to GTR. If there are fewer trains running, they should be not short-form trains.