Asked by: Lord Lucas (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many train-platform interface injuries were recorded in the latest year for which figures are available; how many of those were on driver-only operated trains; and what each figure represents as a proportion of relevant passenger journeys.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
During 2015/16 there were 5 fatalities, 52 major injuries and 1,388 minor injuries recorded on the national rail network in passenger incidents at the platform/train interface; information is not recorded on which of these may have involved trains which were driver-only operated or which had a driver and a guard. These represent, respectively, around one fatality in every 350 million journeys, one major injury in every 30 million journeys, and one minor injury in every 1 million journeys.
Asked by: Lord Lucas (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the death of a man hit by a train at Horley Station on 22 October, what steps they are taking to ensure that passengers delayed by such incidents are provided with (1) information as the nature of the incident, (2) regular updates as to what is being done about the incident, and (3) expectations regarding resumption of services.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
This is an operational matter for Network Rail and Train Operating Companies, who are responsible for ensuring effective messaging to passengers about disruption to services and the impact on their journeys, and for working with the emergency services as necessary to ensure services can resume at the earliest opportunity. The industry appreciates that where there has been an incident such as a fatality, messaging needs to be handled sensitively to avoid causing undue distress to passengers.
Asked by: Lord Lucas (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 15 March (HL6698), how they intend to evaluate whether Govia Thameslink Railway has met its franchise commitment to "make improvements to passenger experience both on trains and at stations", and how in particular the effect on passengers of reduced ticket office hours will be evaluated; and whether they will invite interested parliamentarians to a meeting to discuss Govia Thameslink Railway's performance against its franchise commitments.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
There are a number of contractual obligations within Govia Thameslink Railway’s franchise agreement designed to improve the passenger experience both on trains and at stations and there are processes in place to monitor and review compliance with these obligations. To date, Govia Thameslink Railway have delivered over 60 of these obligations, which have included the extension of Oyster Pay as You Go and Contactless Payments to Gatwick Airport, increased overnight services to Luton Airport Parkway, the introduction of weekend and late evening services on the Moorgate branch, the staffing of an additional 25 stations from the first to last train and the issuing of tablets to customer facing staff to improve passenger information.
A separate ticketless travel monitoring regime is in place which incentivises Govia Thameslink Railway to reduce ticketless travel and maximise the collection of passenger revenue. In relation to the noble Lord’s point about meeting interested parliamentarians to discuss GTR’s performance, I would direct him to contact the my Hon Friend, the Rail Minister’s (Claire Perry MP) office to arrange this as I’m sure she would be happy to meet.
Asked by: Lord Lucas (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 3 March (HL6266), what improvements Govia Thameslink Railway have implemented since the commencement of their franchise.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) have implemented numerous improvements since the commencement of their franchise. These include, but are not limited to:
In addition, the following key improvements are on course to be delivered by Govia Thameslink Railway in the coming months:
More details on the committed obligations and improvements GTR are contracted to deliver can be found in the Franchise Agreement which is available at the government website.
Asked by: Lord Lucas (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 3 March (HL6266), whether they consider that the changes to the opening hours of ticketing offices proposed by Govia Thameslink Railway can be described as proposals to "improve the passenger experience at stations" in the light of proposals for reduced ticket office hours and the continuation of ticket machines; and whether they consider that the introduction of smaller seats and the removal of tea trolleys will also "improve the passenger service".
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) were awarded the franchise on the basis that they would make improvements to the passenger experience both on trains and at stations. Further to my written answer on 3 March, GTR are consulting on proposed changes to ticket office opening hours at some stations. As part of these proposals, GTR plan to introduce the role of ’Station Host’ who will be on duty for times in excess of the current ticket office opening hours. The Station Hosts will be there to provide customer assistance including help with ticket purchases and information provision.
Asked by: Lord Lucas (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to ensure that Southern Rail does not close ticket offices until it installs ticket machines that make it possible for customers to buy the best-value ticket combinations.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) which operates Southern services is developing proposals to improve the passenger experience at stations. This will include changes to the way staff work at stations and how tickets are retailed and incorporates a plan to install additional ticket vending machines.
Where the changes involve changes to ticket office opening hours there is an industry process which GTR must follow, starting with their public consultation which commenced on 22 February. We recognise that passengers can feel very strongly about ticket office opening hours and we expect GTR to take on board the views of stakeholders before taking the proposal forward.
Asked by: Lord Lucas (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will place in the Library of the House a copy of the by-laws currently in force that regulate the operation of Liverpool Airport.
Answered by Baroness Kramer - Liberal Democrat Lords Spokesperson (Treasury and Economy)
A copy of the Byelaws for Liverpool John Lennon Airport, which date from 1982, have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.