Asked by: Matthew Offord (Conservative - Hendon)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department is seeking to negotiate reforms to the rail network as part of its pay negotiations with train drivers' unions.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
As the Department is not the employer, negotiations are between the industry and the trade unions.
The Rail Delivery Group, on behalf of the train operators, has presented a fair and reasonable offer to the rail trade unions including ASLEF, which included urgent reform to ensure our railways are financially and operationally sustainable for the benefit of passengers, rail workers and the taxpayer as well as delivering a pay rise.
Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the train operating companies sought the agreement of his Department on the proposed number of (a) ticket office closures and (b) hours stations would be staffed before beginning its consultation on these matters.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Through the industry-led Ticketing and Settlement Agreement (TSA) process when a train operating company proposes to make a change to the opening hours, or closure of a ticket office, they must follow the rules set out in the TSA.
The Secretary of State and his Department did not approve any of the respective proposals before the companies commenced consultation. Government has asked train operators to reduce the cost of the industry to the taxpayer given the dire financial situation facing the railways; as well as ensure staff are deployed where they are most needed by passengers. These are industry proposals. This is a real opportunity to update and improve the way train operators deliver for customers. The DfT issued mandates to TOCS on station reform earlier in 2023 We expect train operators to work collaboratively with the passenger bodies in the coming weeks, to listen to the concerns raised and to refine their proposals accordingly.
Whilst it is my expectation that no currently staffed station should be unstaffed as a result of industry changes, it is for train operators to decide on their staffing arrangements at each of the stations from which they operate services, so they can best meet the needs of passengers.
Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the train operating companies sought the agreement of his Department before beginning the consultation on ticket office closures.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Through the industry-led Ticketing and Settlement Agreement (TSA) process when a train operating company proposes to make a change to the opening hours, or closure of a ticket office, they must follow the rules set out in the TSA. The Secretary of State and his Department did not approve any of the respective proposals before the companies commenced consultation. Government has asked train operators to reduce the cost of the industry to the taxpayer given the dire financial situation facing the railways; as well as ensure staff are deployed where they are most needed by passengers. These are industry proposals. This is a real opportunity to update and improve the way train operators deliver for customers. The DfT issued mandates to TOCS on station reform earlier in 2023.
We expect train operators to work collaboratively with the passenger bodies in the coming weeks, to listen to the concerns raised and to refine their proposals accordingly.
Whilst it is my expectation that no currently staffed station should be unstaffed as a result of industry changes, it is for train operators to decide on their staffing arrangements at each of the stations from which they operate services, so they can best meet the needs of passengers.
Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department approved train company proposals for ticket office closures before consultations began.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Through the industry-led Ticketing and Settlement Agreement (TSA) process when a train operating company proposes to make a change to the opening hours, or closure of a ticket office, they must follow the rules set out in the TSA. The Secretary of State and his Department did not approve any of the respective proposals before the companies commenced consultation. Government has asked train operators to reduce the cost of the industry to the taxpayer given the dire financial situation facing the railways; as well as ensure staff are deployed where they are most needed by passengers. These are industry proposals. This is a real opportunity to update and improve the way train operators deliver for customers. The DfT issued mandates to TOCS on station reform earlier in 2023.
We expect train operators to work collaboratively with the passenger bodies in the coming weeks, to listen to the concerns raised and to refine their proposals accordingly.
Whilst it is my expectation that no currently staffed station should be unstaffed as a result of industry changes, it is for train operators to decide on their staffing arrangements at each of the stations from which they operate services, so they can best meet the needs of passengers.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential effect of (a) station staff and (b) on-board guards on the levels of passenger confidence for (i) all passengers and (b) vulnerable passengers.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The UK’s rail network is one of the safest in Europe and we will never compromise the safety of passengers on our railways. As the industry takes forward vital reforms, safety remains a top priority for all.
When proposing major changes to ticket office opening hours, including closures, train operators are required to take into account the adequacy of the proposed alternatives in relation to the needs of all passengers; and to include this in the notice of the proposal sent to other operators and passenger groups. We would also expect operators to consider other equality related needs and make this clear in the notice sent to other operators and passenger groups.
Together with the industry, we want to improve and modernise the passenger experience by moving staff out from ticket offices to provide more help and advice in customer focused roles. No currently staffed station will be unstaffed as a result of industry changes, and train operators will ensure staff are well located to meet passenger needs in future.
Asked by: Feryal Clark (Labour - Enfield North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of closing train station ticket offices in Enfield North constituency on the (a) safety and (b) accessibility of passenger rail travel in (i) Enfield North constituency, (ii) the London Borough of Enfield and (iii) London.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The UK’s rail network is one of the safest in Europe and we will never compromise the safety of passengers on our railways. As the industry takes forward vital reforms, safety remains a top priority for all.
When proposing major changes to ticket office opening hours, including closures, operators are required to take into account the adequacy of the proposed alternatives in relation to the needs of all passengers; and to include this in the notice of the proposal sent to other operators and passenger groups. We would also expect operators to consider other equality related needs and make this clear in the notice sent to other operators and passenger groups.
Together with industry, we want to improve and modernise the passenger experience by moving staff out from ticket offices to provide more help and advice in customer focused roles. Following the consultations, the independent passenger bodies will play a vital role in assessing and shaping proposals.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 17 July 2023 to Question 193249 on Railways: Tickets, whether the Ticketing and Settlement Agreement permits companies which operate train services to co-ordinate and align their individual company policies and practices with each other (a) in the provision of their services to passengers and (b) on changes to those services.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
In parallel to the public consultation, a train operator consultation also takes place as set out in the Ticketing and Settlement Agreement. During this consultation period, all train operators can see the proposals of others and are able to raise any questions or concerns.
When making a station proposal, a train operator should consider the impact they will have on other operators utilising the station.
Asked by: Kwasi Kwarteng (Conservative - Spelthorne)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions he has had with (a) Transport for London and (b) train operating companies on decreasing rail fares for Spelthorne residents travelling to and from London.
Answered by Richard Holden - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
As part of the Plan for Rail we will invest to radically reform and improve passengers’ experience of fares, ticketing and retailing on the railways. We have committed to extending contactless pay as you go to 53 more stations, including those in Spelthorne, by the end of this year. To support this, we are simplifying fares to ensure that pay as you go offers best value and has greater flexibility for passengers.
Asked by: Lord Naseby (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what has happened to “the Great British Railways” app that was announced in 2021 which was to be issued by the Rail Delivery Group with the objective of making online purchases of tickets easier.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
As set out in the Plan for Rail, we recognise that the current multitude of train company websites with different standards of service is confusing to passengers. We are continuing to review the best way to address this and are working closely with the rail sector to do this.
We want to see a more competitive retail market and will break down the systems and structural barriers to entry so it is easier to enter the market to sell rail tickets.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of WiFi on passenger trains.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Department previously commissioned Transport Focus' 'Keeping connected: passengers’ experience of internet connectivity on Great Britain’s railways' report, published on 24 July 2020, assessing on-train wifi and mobile operator connectivity.
Today the on-train wifi equipment, and hence the passenger experience, depends on the availability of adequate mobile signals.
We are working with Network Rail, to repeat the measurements of mobile operator signals across the rail network, previously published by Ofcom in 2019.The Department aims to publish this data in late 2024.
The Department of Science, Innovation and Technology in their Wireless Infrastructure Strategy has also asked Ofcom to increase their reporting of coverage on the rail network with an objective of reporting this annually and presenting this "in a way that provides meaningful information to consumers."