Contributions
1,459 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARD Avanti West Coast Contract RenewalI have covered a number of times the position on performance payments in the Avanti contract. The hon. Lady’s constituents will have seen the clear commitment we have made to…25 Oct 2022HANSARD Avanti West Coast Contract RenewalI have pointed out a couple of times that performance payments for the period since the cessation of rest-day working and the reduction in the timetable will be evaluated…25 Oct 2022HANSARD Avanti West Coast Contract RenewalYes, I will. In fact, I have already spoken to some of Avanti’s most senior management and made that point, particularly following representations from hon. Members. I also…25 Oct 2022HANSARD Avanti West Coast Contract RenewalIt is always good to get constructive suggestions as to how we improve train services. On the service, I think I have said “unacceptable” more times at the Dispatch Box on this…25 Oct 2022HANSARD Avanti West Coast Contract RenewalWe have already begun to see the restoration of some peak-time services. It is also worth saying that very few people use the open return-price ticket—I certainly did not use it…25 Oct 2022HANSARD Avanti West Coast Contract RenewalWork is ongoing to ensure that the operator of last resort would be ready in April to pick up the service. I will touch on some of the issues raised, but not all are within…25 Oct 2022HANSARD Avanti West Coast Contract RenewalAs I have touched on already, we do not believe that simply popping this into the OLR and changing the paintwork on the trains, as if that is a magic solution, will be an…25 Oct 2022HANSARD Avanti West Coast Contract RenewalAs the hon. Gentleman will appreciate, we are constantly monitoring the performance. As for removing the franchise, we clearly have to go through a due process, as I am sure he…25 Oct 2022HANSARD Avanti West Coast Contract RenewalI do not believe it is a mistake to focus on an improvement plan that will come in in December and to carefully monitor progress. As I have said, DFT officials engage daily with…25 Oct 2022HANSARD Avanti West Coast Contract RenewalI have to say, that was not the universal reaction to the decision we took, when we were clear that this was a six-month probationary period. We look forward to seeing the…25 Oct 2022HANSARD Avanti West Coast Contract RenewalMy hon. Friend is absolutely right to raise that. As part of taking a longer-term decision, we would want to see how the improvement was sustainable—for example, as I have touched…25 Oct 2022HANSARD Avanti West Coast Contract RenewalMy hon. Friend puts her points very well. We have been clear that improvements need to be made for this contract to continue beyond April.25 Oct 2022HANSARD Avanti West Coast Contract RenewalAs I have already said, we are clear that the six-month extension is to give Avanti the final opportunity to implement the improvement plans that it has put in place, which we are…25 Oct 2022HANSARD Avanti West Coast Contract RenewalAs I have said, departmental officials engage with Avanti on its recovery plan, as I touched on in an answer to a previous question: it is about not just accepting its assurance…25 Oct 2022HANSARD Avanti West Coast Contract RenewalI hear the points my hon. Friend makes. Obviously, he will appreciate that I need to follow the due legal process in terms of any removal of franchise, but we have made clear the…25 Oct 2022HANSARD Avanti West Coast Contract RenewalWe could have quite a session on the changes in ticket buying patterns in recent years. The number of people buying tickets at a ticket office has declined dramatically, and we…25 Oct 2022HANSARD Great British RailwaysI have already made clear that we will—hopefully I will—look to make an announcement around the result of the headquarters competition for Great British Railways. I take on board…24 Oct 2022HANSARD Great British RailwaysThe hon. Lady makes a fair point about making sure that ticket prices are able to be clearly understood by customers and consumers and that they are fair overall. However, open…24 Oct 2022HANSARD Great British RailwaysI thank the hon. Member for raising East West Rail, a major investment we are making in improving connectivity across our country, driving economic growth and revitalising rail…24 Oct 2022HANSARD Great British RailwaysI thank the hon. Member for his points. As he will be aware, the process for changing timetables has been altered over the past couple of years, again, because of the radically…24 Oct 2022