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Written Question
Transport: Maidstone and the Weald
Monday 23rd October 2023

Asked by: Helen Grant (Conservative - Maidstone and The Weald)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make it his policy to reallocate funds allocated to HS2 in the South East to projects in Maidstone and the Weald constituency.

Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

We are investing in transport across the country, with £6.5bn of reallocated HS2 funds being invested outside of the North and Midlands. This includes the extension of the £2 bus fare cap until the end of 2024 and billions to fix potholes in our roads, as well as road and rail upgrades and improvements.


Written Question
Railway Stations: Tickets
Friday 8th September 2023

Asked by: Helen Grant (Conservative - Maidstone and The Weald)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking with train operating companies to ensure that planned ticket office closures do not disproportionally affect (a) disabled and (b) elderly passengers.

Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

When proposing major changes to ticket office opening hours, including closures, train operators were required to take into account the adequacy of the proposed alternatives in relation to the needs of all passengers including those who are disabled, vulnerable or have protected characteristics; and to include this in the notice of the proposal sent to other operators and passenger groups. When consulting, operators should have also clearly considered other equality-related needs.

Following the end of the consultation period the independent passenger bodies (Transport Focus and London TravelWatch) are engaging with train operators on the basis of the consultation responses they have received and the criteria they have set out. We expect train operators to work collaboratively with passenger bodies in the coming weeks, to listen to concerns raised, such as the impacts on vulnerable people, and to refine their proposals accordingly.


Written Question
Thameslink Railway Line: Maidstone
Thursday 7th February 2019

Asked by: Helen Grant (Conservative - Maidstone and The Weald)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps the Government is taking to ensure the timely implementation of the City Thameslink Service from Maidstone East before the end of 2019.

Answered by Andrew Jones

The rail industry is currently considering proposals regarding the introduction of the new Thameslink service between Maidstone East and Cambridge.

The disruption following the timetable change in May 2018 was completely unacceptable and the Government is committed to ensuring that future timetable changes are comprehensively planned and managed to avoid the risk of passenger disruption.