Asked by: Joan Ryan (The Independent Group for Change - Enfield North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent progress his Department has made on implementation of the recommendations in the Strategic Vision for Rail.
Answered by Andrew Jones
Since the publication of the Strategic Vision for Rail in November 2017 we have made significant progress on delivering our near term commitments. We are introducing alliancing through three current competitions on South Eastern, East Midlands and the West Coast Partnership. We are spending £47.9bn from 2019 to 2024 on our network.. We are working closely with Network Rail on its plans to devolve more authority to its routes to meet local customers’ needs. And we have delivered on our commitments to ensure that the railway provides modern customer services that passengers expect, such as the introduction of smart ticketing and the rail ombudsman.
However, whilst we continue to work with industry to make sure that rail delivers day-to-day, and given the disruption caused to passengers by the introduction of the May 2018 timetable, it is clear we need transformational changes to meet future demands. That is why we have launched the Rail Review which will build on the work of the Strategic Vision and consider ambitious recommendations for reform, to ensure our vital rail system benefits passengers and freight and supports a stronger and fairer economy.
Asked by: Joan Ryan (The Independent Group for Change - Enfield North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will direct Govia Thameslink to share the data required by Transport for London to be able to compile a business case for becoming the franchising authority for Great Northern services operating in and out of Moorgate station.
Answered by Andrew Jones
The Department remains committed to working with Transport for London (TfL) to consider options for the devolution of the Moorgate line. We will always seek to devolve the responsibility for decisions where there is a case for doing so that will benefit all passengers.
I understand the need for GTR to share data with TfL so that they can prepare for the possible devolution of the Moorgate line in good time. However, GTR are focusing on delivering the complete benefits of the Thameslink Programme and this still has a way to go. This means that there is not yet a steady state operational model, and major change continues. As a result, much of the information that TfL will need access to cannot be shared yet as it is still subject to significant change.
Asked by: Joan Ryan (The Independent Group for Change - Enfield North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent progress his Department has made on implementation of the recommendations in Chris Gibb's independent report on the Govia Thameslink Railway franchise.
Answered by Andrew Jones
Chris Gibb’s report made a number of recommendations for the network that we are continuing to work with the industry to deliver. In particular, the Department is working with Network Rail to deliver the remainder of the £300m programme to improve rail infrastructure and resilience along the Southern and Thameslink rail networks announced in January 2017. This will underpin the delivery of the Thameslink Programme and improve reliability across those networks.
Those works include the successful delivery of an ongoing programme of track renewals, a number of signaling enhancements, drainage works and the clearance of vegetation. A number of maintenance pods have been delivered at strategic points on the network to help improve service recovery times. There is also a major overhaul of the Balcombe Tunnel infrastructure that will make a real difference to performance on the Brighton Main Line and is being done in a way that minimises passenger impacts.
In addition, the Thameslink Industry Readiness Board chaired by Chris Gibb is now in the process of independently reviewing and challenging the industry programme to deliver the remaining Thameslink Programme timetable changes.