Oral Answers to Questions

Justin Madders Excerpts
Thursday 5th July 2018

(6 years, 4 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Jo Stevens Portrait Jo Stevens (Cardiff Central) (Lab)
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13. What recent assessment he has made of trends in passenger rail usage.

Justin Madders Portrait Justin Madders (Ellesmere Port and Neston) (Lab)
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16. What recent assessment he has made of trends in passenger rail usage.

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Lord Johnson of Marylebone Portrait Joseph Johnson
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The Government are conscious of the cost of fares to the travelling public. For that reason, we have ensured that fares have risen at a lower rate than they did under the last Labour Government. The causes of the decline in season ticket numbers are complex. Although the statistics show a fall in journeys made using season tickets, there has been an increase in journeys made using other ticket types over the past year. Factors such as strikes, station closures and weather have had an impact on season ticket use.

Justin Madders Portrait Justin Madders
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After years of campaigning, my constituents in Neston were delighted when they heard that the new Borderlands franchise would include a half-hourly service on the Wrexham to Bidston line. However, that joy was tempered somewhat with the news that the new service might not stop at every station. Given that a frequent and reliable service is vital for the residents of Neston, will the Minister join me in writing to his Welsh counterpart to impress on him the need for this service to stop at every station?

Lord Johnson of Marylebone Portrait Joseph Johnson
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I suggest to the hon. Gentleman that he engage the Welsh Government in Wales, who have primary responsibility for specifications to that service.