Contributions
547 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDAvanti West CoastThe hon. Gentleman raised a number of points. I completely understand the frustration and disappointment, but more than anything the need to give passengers the confidence in our…07 Sept 2022HANSARDAvanti West CoastAs ever, my hon. Friend makes excellent points. I wholeheartedly agree that the situation is untenable and needs to be improved. I also travel frequently—indeed, most weeks—on my…07 Sept 2022HANSARDAvanti West CoastAbsolutely. I understand the challenges, particularly on the Cumbrian coast line. I have spoken to passengers who have suffered the pain of having their last train cancelled. I…07 Sept 2022HANSARDAvanti West CoastI completely agree with the shadow spokeslady on the need to modernise the workforce. People volunteering to work rest days is no longer a sustainable way to run the rail sector,…07 Sept 2022HANSARDAvanti West CoastAs I set out previously, Avanti has particular challenges that other train operating companies do not, in that it took over from Virgin and had 16 weeks before the pandemic hit.…07 Sept 2022HANSARDAvanti West CoastMy hon. Friend is absolutely spot on. Of course trains need to operate seven days a week, which is why the system of train drivers volunteering to work on those rest days is no…07 Sept 2022HANSARDAvanti West CoastThis Government are absolutely backing the rail sector, with more than £90 billion being invested in the integrated rail service. Great British Railways will seek to address many…07 Sept 2022HANSARDAvanti West CoastI understand the challenge, but however we cut this cake, we need the same ingredients: we need train drivers to drive the trains. There is a finite number of qualified, trained…07 Sept 2022HANSARDAvanti West CoastPersonally, I would say that the north is the best place to run a business and to live. I have considerable experience, having lived all my life in the north. On what we are doing…07 Sept 2022HANSARDAvanti West CoastAll options remain on the table, and the decision will take place on 16 October. I think I have already set out the acute challenges that Avanti faces and I make the point again…07 Sept 2022HANSARDAvanti West CoastAgain, it is common sense. That is already happening, which is why I am not calling for it. It needs to continue, and a solution needs to be found to provide an effective rail…07 Sept 2022HANSARDAvanti West CoastMy right hon. Friend is absolutely correct: the service to north Wales is unacceptable. That is why the decision that will be taken on 16 October will bear in mind how swiftly we…07 Sept 2022HANSARDAvanti West CoastMy hon. Friend speaks from experience and makes an excellent point. I think all of us across this House want the same thing: for passengers to be sure that they can enjoy a safe,…07 Sept 2022HANSARDAvanti West CoastI am not convinced that bringing the railways into public ownership at this stage in the way that the hon. Lady has described will provide the solutions that passengers are…07 Sept 2022HANSARDAvanti West CoastOf course we will look at all the evidence. One service an hour from London Euston to Manchester is completely unacceptable. I agree with that; I think that everybody agrees with…07 Sept 2022HANSARDAvanti West CoastThe reality is that we, the state, are currently paying for the train service, because it is unsustainable for train operators to pay for it themselves. I will take deep interest…07 Sept 2022HANSARDAvanti West CoastWhile it is my job to answer the questions, my question to the hon. Gentleman would be: “Where are the drivers going to come from?” That is the challenge here. However we cut this…07 Sept 2022HANSARDAvanti West CoastI certainly have not used inflammatory language. My husband is a member of the GMB union and I believe that my salary contributes every month to its upkeep. On the west coast main…07 Sept 2022HANSARDAvanti West CoastI will ensure that that meeting goes ahead as planned.07 Sept 2022HANSARDAvanti West CoastSo the hon. Gentleman says. I am not so convinced by what he says. There have been considerable benefits from the privatisation of the train sector. We have seen a doubling of…07 Sept 2022