Contributions
939 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDNorth Cotswold Line: DuallingAs my right hon. Friend mentions, additional funding through Network North will help. Network Rail has been working with the taskforce and its consultants on timetable capacity…21 Mar 2024HANSARDRail ServicesThe Secretary of State has led for the Department on the response to Hitachi and Alstom, and their understandable concerns about orders. As I have said, we have a challenge, in…21 Mar 2024HANSARDNorth Cotswold Line: DuallingI recognise my right hon. Friend’s long-standing campaign on this scheme; she has worked alongside stakeholders including the North Cotswold Line Task Force. We continue to work…21 Mar 2024HANSARDTopical QuestionsThere was a retendering at Chalkwell, and Network Rail found that the existing structures would not be suitable to deliver the project as it stood. The design work is going on…21 Mar 2024HANSARDRail ServicesI am happy to work with the Chair of the Select Committee, and I thank him for the evidence session we had on east-west rail. It was also brilliant to go to the Winslow and…21 Mar 2024HANSARDTopical QuestionsThe point I was making is that if the operator changes, the contracts between operator and the unions will remain unless the unions are willing to release. There cannot be a…21 Mar 2024HANSARDTopical QuestionsI will happily write to the hon. Lady and the Langport Transport Group so that they have a response, if they feel that that is outstanding. The Prime Minister has committed to…21 Mar 2024HANSARDTopical QuestionsThat is a challenge. The shortage of crew is largely down to sickness, the level of which is about 8.5%, which is too high. We are working with the operator to ensure that it is…21 Mar 2024HANSARDRail ServicesMy right hon. Friend is spot on, as always. I thank him for his work, because ultimately that project would not have got off the ground without the campaigning and partnership…21 Mar 2024HANSARDTopical QuestionsI thank my hon. Friend. He has been a champion not only for Cleethorpes’ direct rail service, but for the east coast main line timetable change that was announced in the Budget.…21 Mar 2024HANSARDRail ServicesI certainly look forward to the day when my hon. Friend the Member for Mansfield (Ben Bradley) is also an excellent East Midlands Mayor, and we are devolving more powers to the…21 Mar 2024HANSARDTopical QuestionsThe decision to extend the Avanti contract was taken because its performance had improved dramatically. At that time, its self-induced cancellation rates were at 1.5%, down from…08 Feb 2024HANSARDTopical QuestionsWe have had a presentation on the plan, and I would be very happy to meet my hon. Friend to update him. It is a matter of interest, and I like to see such proposals brought…08 Feb 2024HANSARDTopical QuestionsI would be delighted to update my hon. Friend. She will know that the upgrade of the energy coast line was one of the commitments in the Network North document. The Department is…08 Feb 2024HANSARDRail FaresI fear a career-limiting response. My right hon. Friend’s campaign is strong, and he is absolutely right that it has this team’s support; I am sure that it will have support…08 Feb 2024HANSARDRail FaresIf we take the current year’s fares as an example, we delivered the biggest Government intervention on rail fares since privatisation by capping fare increases at 5.9%, which was…08 Feb 2024HANSARDRail Connectivity: Cambridge and NorwichI welcome my hon. Friend’s campaign for the Ely junction capacity enhancement scheme, which is one of the schemes referenced in the Prime Minister’s Network North plan. Network…08 Feb 2024HANSARDRail Connectivity: Cambridge and NorwichGreater Anglia currently operates an hourly direct rail service between Norwich and Cambridge using its new rolling stock, with a journey time of around 80 minutes. It is also…08 Feb 2024HANSARDUnused Rail CapacityI thought he was referring to me with that “middle-aged man” point, but I can assure my hon. Friend that we are working at pace. Since we met in November with the team, which…08 Feb 2024HANSARDUnused Rail CapacityThe Office of Rail and Road has been working with Network Rail and the Department for Transport to identify unused access rights. That work will support the release of under-used…08 Feb 2024