Oral Answers to Questions

Matthew Pennycook Excerpts

Thursday 30th January 2020 Commons Chamber

[Ms Ghani]

I am a little cautious about the second point, but I will most definitely do what my hon. Friend asks on the first. Network Rail has a duty to make sure its stations have decent accessibility, and where there is no accessibility, the rail operating companies have a duty to make sure passengers can carry on with their journey.

[Matthew Pennycook (Greenwich and Woolwich) (Lab)]

7. What recent discussions his Department has had with Southeastern on the adequacy of its rail services.

[Clive Efford (Eltham) (Lab)]

19. What recent assessment he has made of the future of the Southeastern rail franchise; and if he will make a statement.

[The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Chris Heaton-Harris)]

Southeastern’s performance has been strong—much improved—and remained relatively stable over the last year. Southeastern is subject to several contractual performance benchmarks as part of its franchise agreement, and the Department monitors those closely.

[Matthew Pennycook]

I thank the Minister for his response. He will know that reliability is still a problem on the line and that for many years I have pressed his Department to hand responsibility for Southeastern services to Transport for London to ensure that passengers in my constituency get the high standard of service that those who use London Overground receive. I know that his immediate priority will be dealing with the franchise expiring on 1 April, but may I ask him and his officials, particularly in the light of positive developments in relation to Great Northern services, to step up conversations with the Mayor of London and TfL about the possibility of rail devolution in south-east London?

[Chris Heaton-Harris]

I thank the hon. Gentleman for his supplementary question. We have met and spoken about this issue in the past. He will know that I am completely focused on making sure that that franchise works and on whatever might happen on 1 April, but I am interested to hear the proposals going forward for the devolution of certain areas of Southeastern’s franchise.