Asked by: Joan Ryan (The Independent Group for Change - Enfield North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent progress his Department has made on implementation of the recommendations in the Strategic Vision for Rail.
Answered by Andrew Jones
Since the publication of the Strategic Vision for Rail in November 2017 we have made significant progress on delivering our near term commitments. We are introducing alliancing through three current competitions on South Eastern, East Midlands and the West Coast Partnership. We are spending £47.9bn from 2019 to 2024 on our network.. We are working closely with Network Rail on its plans to devolve more authority to its routes to meet local customers’ needs. And we have delivered on our commitments to ensure that the railway provides modern customer services that passengers expect, such as the introduction of smart ticketing and the rail ombudsman.
However, whilst we continue to work with industry to make sure that rail delivers day-to-day, and given the disruption caused to passengers by the introduction of the May 2018 timetable, it is clear we need transformational changes to meet future demands. That is why we have launched the Rail Review which will build on the work of the Strategic Vision and consider ambitious recommendations for reform, to ensure our vital rail system benefits passengers and freight and supports a stronger and fairer economy.
Asked by: Joan Ryan (The Independent Group for Change - Enfield North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will direct Govia Thameslink to share the data required by Transport for London to be able to compile a business case for becoming the franchising authority for Great Northern services operating in and out of Moorgate station.
Answered by Andrew Jones
The Department remains committed to working with Transport for London (TfL) to consider options for the devolution of the Moorgate line. We will always seek to devolve the responsibility for decisions where there is a case for doing so that will benefit all passengers.
I understand the need for GTR to share data with TfL so that they can prepare for the possible devolution of the Moorgate line in good time. However, GTR are focusing on delivering the complete benefits of the Thameslink Programme and this still has a way to go. This means that there is not yet a steady state operational model, and major change continues. As a result, much of the information that TfL will need access to cannot be shared yet as it is still subject to significant change.
Asked by: Joan Ryan (The Independent Group for Change - Enfield North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent progress his Department has made on implementation of the recommendations in Chris Gibb's independent report on the Govia Thameslink Railway franchise.
Answered by Andrew Jones
Chris Gibb’s report made a number of recommendations for the network that we are continuing to work with the industry to deliver. In particular, the Department is working with Network Rail to deliver the remainder of the £300m programme to improve rail infrastructure and resilience along the Southern and Thameslink rail networks announced in January 2017. This will underpin the delivery of the Thameslink Programme and improve reliability across those networks.
Those works include the successful delivery of an ongoing programme of track renewals, a number of signaling enhancements, drainage works and the clearance of vegetation. A number of maintenance pods have been delivered at strategic points on the network to help improve service recovery times. There is also a major overhaul of the Balcombe Tunnel infrastructure that will make a real difference to performance on the Brighton Main Line and is being done in a way that minimises passenger impacts.
In addition, the Thameslink Industry Readiness Board chaired by Chris Gibb is now in the process of independently reviewing and challenging the industry programme to deliver the remaining Thameslink Programme timetable changes.
Asked by: Joan Ryan (The Independent Group for Change - Enfield North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions he has had with the Mayor of London on transferring franchising authority to Transport for London for contracting Great Northern metro train services that run to and from Moorgate station.
Answered by Andrew Jones
Ministers and officials from the Department for Transport have regular discussions with the Mayor of London, representatives of the London Assembly and Transport for London covering a variety of subjects including rail services in London.
Asked by: Joan Ryan (The Independent Group for Change - Enfield North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has completed its hard review of the Govia Thameslink Railway franchise; and if he will make statement.
Answered by Andrew Jones
The Department has concluded that the disruption on this network was caused by a series of mistakes and complex issues across the rail industry. This is in line with Professor Stephen Glaister’s interim report.
The Government is holding GTR to account for their role in the unacceptable performance following the introduction of the May timetable. To this end, GTR will make no profit from its franchise in this financial year. Looking ahead, we have also capped the amount of profit that the operator is able to make for the remainder of its franchise, which is due to expire in September 2021.
Furthermore, GTR will be contributing £15m towards tangible improvements for passengers. This is in addition to the £15m the operator has already contributed towards compensation for passengers since the May timetable disruption.
Asked by: Joan Ryan (The Independent Group for Change - Enfield North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many meetings he has had with the Mayor of London on plans for devolving commuter rail services to Transport for London.
Answered by Andrew Jones
Ministers and officials from the Department for Transport have regular discussions with the Mayor of London, representatives of the London Assembly and Transport for London covering a variety of subjects including rail services in London.
Asked by: Joan Ryan (The Independent Group for Change - Enfield North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to transfer commuter rail services to Transport for London as proposed in Chris Gibb's independent report to the Department for Transport on the Govia Thameslink Railway franchise.
Answered by Andrew Jones
Building on the Strategic Vision for Rail, the Department is actively considering the future of the TSGN franchise. It is doing this working closely with the Williams Rail Review, which, as part of its work, is examining the most appropriate organisational and commercial models for the future railway. This work is at an early stage and nothing is off the table.
Asked by: Joan Ryan (The Independent Group for Change - Enfield North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he plans to respond to the letter from The Right hon. Member for Enfield North, dated 24 October 2017, on the development of the Northern Gateway Access Package.
Answered by Jesse Norman
I replied on 21 December 2017.
Asked by: Joan Ryan (The Independent Group for Change - Enfield North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions his Department has had with Govia Thameslink Railway on the talks between London-based train operators and Transport for London aimed at sharing pay-as-you-go fares on suburban rail routes.
Answered by Claire Perry
The Department for Transport is aware that discussions are taking place between train operating companies and Transport for London (TfL) about possible changes to Pay As You Go fares in London, however we await the outcome of these discussions which we are not party to.
Asked by: Joan Ryan (The Independent Group for Change - Enfield North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what role his Department has in setting fares on trains operated by Govia Thameslink Railway.
Answered by Claire Perry
The Department for Transport’s role is setting the annual parameters for regulated fare increases. The train operating company (TOC) is obliged to set fares within the limits set by the Secretary of State.