Asked by: Douglas Carswell (Independent - Clacton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to ensure that Abellio Greater Anglia meets its franchise commitments related to performance; and if he will make it his policy to use his enforcement powers as the franchising authority in the event that those commitments are not met.
Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Department monitors each train operator’s overall performance and there are clear actions set out in the franchise agreement should performance drop below what is expected. This regular monitoring includes monthly meetings between my officials and their senior management where performance figures are scrutinised and challenged.
There are a range of enforcement mechanisms available to the Department in the event of non-compliance.
Asked by: Douglas Carswell (Independent - Clacton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make it his policy to ensure that the East Anglia rail franchise has integrated operating teams between train services and infrastructure.
Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Secretary of State outlined his vision for the future alignment of track and train in the Written Ministerial Statement laid on 6 December. East Midlands and South Eastern are the first franchises in the franchise pipeline and we will continue to develop this model as further franchises are renewed.
Asked by: Douglas Carswell (Independent - Clacton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what his policy is on the extension of tolls on the Severn Bridges once his powers to levy tolls under the Severn Bridges Act 1992 expire.
Answered by John Hayes
The government has made it clear that after the existing concession finishes, crossing users will continue to pay to use the crossing so that expenses incurred by the taxpayer outside of the concession can be recouped, and maintenance and operating costs of this important asset covered. The government will consult on proposals for the tolls in due course.
Asked by: Douglas Carswell (Independent - Clacton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the effects of the EU's Common External Tariff on the patterns of freight transport in the UK.
Answered by John Hayes
The Government has not undertaken a historical analysis of this particular effect. Indeed it would be difficult to separate out the effects of the common customs tariff from the effects of other developments in the economy, such as more complex supply chains and online retail.
As part of its preparations for leaving the EU, the Government is considering the full range of implications for transport, including those arising from the customs regime applying after exit.
Asked by: Douglas Carswell (Independent - Clacton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make it his policy to seek compensation for passengers from Abellio Greater Anglia.
Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
All franchised Train Operating Companies are required under their franchise agreement to have in place a Passenger’s Charter which will include arrangements for compensation for passengers.
Abellio Greater Anglia operate the Delay Repay passenger compensation system in their Passenger’s Charter under which all passengers are entitled to claim compensation for each delay of 30 minutes or more which they experience, whatever the cause. The entitlement is 50% compensation of the single fare for delays of 30 to 59 minutes and 100% of the single fare for delays of 60 minutes or more.
Asked by: Douglas Carswell (Independent - Clacton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with Abellio Greater Anglia on commitments for station upgrades at Clacton-on-Sea, as part of the new franchise agreed in August 2016.
Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The new Franchise Agreement will require that Clacton-on-Sea station is equipped with digital Customer Information System (CIS) screens, help points and CCTV cameras linked back to a central control centre. Passengers at Clacton-on-Sea will also benefit from free of charge improved network bandwidth WiFi at the station by 2018. Abellio shall undertake a refurbishment programme at Clacton-on-Sea. This will include a deep clean of the station.
Asked by: Douglas Carswell (Independent - Clacton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans his Department has to ensure that the next East Anglia franchise provides more frequent train services to Clacton-on-Sea and Walton-on-the-Naze.
Answered by Claire Perry
We have already set out the minimum levels of service in the invitation to tender for East Anglia and where bidders see there is an opportunity to offer more than those, they can do so. That tends to be based on whether there is a commercial case for improving services further.
Asked by: Douglas Carswell (Independent - Clacton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the effect of the introduction of the European Rail Traffic Management System on rail services in East Anglia.
Answered by Claire Perry
The impact of introducing the European Rail Traffic Management System is being evaluated first at the national level. Assessments for individual regions will be performed at a later stage.
Asked by: Douglas Carswell (Independent - Clacton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans his Department has to ensure that the next East Anglia franchise delivers greater punctuality and fewer cancellations on train services to Clacton-on-Sea and Walton-on-the-Naze.
Answered by Claire Perry
In the invitation tender for the East Anglia franchise we have asked bidders to come forward with proposals to improve operational performance and passenger experience during times of disruption across all the franchise services.
Asked by: Douglas Carswell (Independent - Clacton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans his Department has to ensure that the next East Anglia franchise introduces new rolling stock on routes to Clacton-on-Sea and Walton-on-the-Naze.
Answered by Claire Perry
The specification for the next franchise requires that bidders provide high quality rolling stock in their bids and 30% of the available quality points from the franchise evaluation (the highest level in any franchise) will be awarded for bidders’ plans for rolling stock improvements.