Asked by: Tom Tugendhat (Conservative - Tonbridge)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what contractual obligations his Department has with Govia Thameslink Railway to deliver the Thameslink programme, including the service to Maidstone East.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris
The Franchise Agreement between Govia Thameslink Railway and the Department specifies two trains per hour between Maidstone East and Cambridge (via the Thameslink core). As with any service introduction, this is subject to obtaining the necessary track access rights from Network Rail.
Following the introduction of the May 2018 timetable, which caused serious disruption to passengers, it was decided any new introduction of service would need to go through more rigorous scrutiny. Thus all future timetable changes need to guarantee the stability and reliability of services.
Unfortunately, introducing the Maidstone East Thameslink services onto an already busy and complex railway network is not yet possible without seriously compromising reliability of existing train services that thousands of passengers rely on every day. Several issues are currently preventing the introduction of the service: on top of timetabling constraints, rolling stock availability and stabling facilities are issues that need to be solved. I can assure my Rt Hon Friend the industry is working hard to resolve these and provide passengers in Maidstone with more frequent services to the City of London as soon as possible. I have had various meetings on this matter with all involved and understand how frustrating this delay is for residents of Maidstone, and other areas which will be served by this route. I will keep my Hon Friend up to date as solutions are found.
Asked by: Tom Tugendhat (Conservative - Tonbridge)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what compensation is available to passengers who have season tickets on the Tonbridge-Redhill rail line after that line being shut as a result of the landslip at Godstone in December 2019.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris
The matter of compensation for season ticket holders in the event of disruption is the responsibility of the train operating companies, in this case Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR). Under its Passenger’s Charter, GTR operates both the Delay Repay and Enhanced Compensation schemes, and I would encourage season ticket holders and other passengers affected by the disruption on this route as a result of the landslip at Godstone to make the appropriate claims under these schemes.
Asked by: Tom Tugendhat (Conservative - Tonbridge)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will publish the correspondence between his Department and Govia Thameslink Railway on the procurement of diesel units for the Uckfield line.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris
Govia Thameslink Railway is in discussions with the Department to identify future requirements for the Uckfield line. However, these discussions are at a very early stage, and therefore we do not have any confirmed plans in place at this time. The Department will not be publishing details of these discussions as they are of a commercially sensitive nature. Further updates on this matter will be provided when it is appropriate to do so.
Asked by: Tom Tugendhat (Conservative - Tonbridge)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what additional highway funding Kent county council is able to access to tackle increased pressure on the county road network as a result of its proximity to mainland Europe.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris
The Department for Transport has allocated Kent county council a total of £34.45m of additional funding in the last two years in recognition of the particular pressures on the County’s road network due the flow of freight traffic to the short strait crossings. This funding was allocated in particular in the context of the development of the Operation Brock traffic management plan, and it has enabled work to improve the resilience of roads that could come under increased pressure in the event of cross-channel disruption.
We will continue to work closely with the Kent resilience forum and other local resilience forums to monitor the situation, including reviewing any additional funding requirements.
Asked by: Tom Tugendhat (Conservative - Tonbridge)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that a direct train service operates from West Malling and Borough Green to London Bridge from December 2019.
Answered by Andrew Jones
We are working with the current operator of Thameslink, Govia Thameslink Railway, and with the industry to realise the full benefits of the Thameslink Programme as part of the new timetable process. We have been absolutely clear that our main priority is delivering the reliable services that passengers expect.
Asked by: Tom Tugendhat (Conservative - Tonbridge)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what measures will be included in the forthcoming Southeastern franchise agreement for the successful franchisee to ensure that as few services as possible are run with short formations.
Answered by Andrew Jones
The forthcoming South Eastern franchise agreement includes a Short Formation regime in Schedule 7.1 where there is a financial incentive to ensure the franchisee meets the train formations agreed, which varies depending on the level of failure. Any income from this regime has to be invested in the franchise. In addition, poor performance in this area can be regarded as a breach in terms of the contract.