Oral Answers to Questions

Tim Loughton Excerpts
Thursday 23rd February 2017

(7 years, 9 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Lord Grayling Portrait Chris Grayling
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Yes, but I actually have a slightly different ambition. I have an ambition to see that train deployed in other countries as well. I have already told the Japanese Transport Minister that, although he has good trains on the suburban network in Tokyo, our Bombardier trains from Derby are better and that he should buy some for his network.

Tim Loughton Portrait Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham) (Con)
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Back on planet Earth, the recent ASLEF ballot was obviously disappointing, and the guarantee of a second person on the train clearly remains a bone of contention. Will the Secretary of State consider making it a performance indicator measure when, in exceptional circumstances, a train leaves without that second person?

Lord Grayling Portrait Chris Grayling
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I am happy to look carefully at that option. It is not my policy or the Government’s policy to remove people from trains. Ways of working will change, but we will need more people, not fewer, delivering services to customers on our railways as demand grows.