Asked by: John Grogan (Labour - Keighley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, which rail franchises are required to provide train services on Boxing Day, and what those requirements are for each franchise.
Answered by Paul Maynard
Two rail franchises are currently required to provide limited Boxing Day services. Greater Anglia is required to operate certain services between London Liverpool Street and Stansted Airport. Govia Thameslink Railway is required to operate certain services between London Victoria, Gatwick Airport and Brighton, between London Victoria and Sutton, and between London Victoria and East Croydon. During any periods of engineering work, replacement bus services would be provided.
All franchises have discretion to operate Boxing Day services on a commercial basis, subject to agreement with Network Rail.
Asked by: John Grogan (Labour - Keighley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has received representations from (a) Stagecoach and (b) Virgin Eastcoast on renegotiating the terms of Virgin East Coast's contract to operate the East Coast mainline; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Paul Maynard
We are in regular discussions with train operators over performance of their contractual obligations. We are unable to comment on the specific details of individual franchise agreements.
Asked by: John Grogan (Labour - Keighley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what provisions there are in the (a) TransPennine and (b) Northern franchise to encourage (i) the operation of trains on Boxing Day and (ii) equalisation of fares across county boundaries; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Paul Maynard
The Northern franchise requires them to consult with passengers, user groups, Network Rail, other train operators, and other relevant stakeholders on the potential demand for passenger services on Boxing Day. . Once this is done they must prepare and submit a report to the Secretary of State which sets out their proposals for operating Boxing Day services. As part of this process Northern must provide a minimum of 60services to operate on Boxing Day 2018.
The TPE franchise requires them to carry out a similar consultation and report process.
At the direction of the Secretary of State the Franchisee shall undertake the consultation required in conjunction with the Northern Franchisee.
There are obligations within both franchise agreements aimed at harmonising fares across the network to resolve inequalities across County boundaries.
Asked by: John Grogan (Labour - Keighley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many rail passengers used (a) Ilkley, (b) Keighley, (c) Ben Rhydding and (d) Steeton and Silsden stations in each year since 2010.
Answered by Paul Maynard
The Office of Rail and Road produces estimates of station usage in terms of the total number of people entering and exiting each national rail station in Great Britain. Annual estimates for the four stations requested from 2010-11 to 2015-16 (the latest year for which data are available) are given in the table below.
Entries and exits by station from 2010-11 to 2015-16
Station | 2010-11 | 2011-12 | 2012-13 | 2013-14 | 2014-15 | 2015-16 |
Ilkley | 1,342,018 | 1,374,276 | 1,211,992 | 1,253,476 | 1,299,496 | 1,303,810 |
Keighley | 1,653,298 | 1,682,586 | 1,627,592 | 1,639,250 | 1,720,804 | 1,702,720 |
Ben Rhydding | 180,778 | 181,518 | 196,524 | 198,462 | 210,342 | 220,770 |
Steeton & Silsden | 744,336 | 750,926 | 787,810 | 797,060 | 862,046 | 838,874 |
Asked by: John Grogan (Labour - Keighley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of restoring the Skipton to Colne rail route.
Answered by Paul Maynard
Where connectivity needs are the key objective, we task the local authorities concerned to take the first step in evaluating benefits and prioritising available resources.
Local partners in the North share a desire to improve connectivity across the Pennines and their East-West Connectivity Study suggested there will be economic benefits in doing so. They will be actively involved in the Transport for the North’s Central Pennines strategic development corridor study to develop an outline programme and business case. We look forward to seeing the results of this work in due course.
Asked by: John Grogan (Labour - Keighley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many bus journeys operated out of (a) Keighley and (b) Ilkley bus station in each year from 2010.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
The Department does not hold information on the number of bus journeys operated out of Keighley and Ilkley bus stations.
Asked by: John Grogan (Labour - Keighley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many trains ran on Boxing Day in each of the last five years; and what plans he has to increase the number of trains running on Boxing Day 2017.
Answered by Paul Maynard
Historic information on the number of train services run on Boxing Day is not held by the Department. We are not currently aware of plans for an increase in services on Boxing Day this year, but franchised operators are encouraged to explore the scope for such initiatives where these can be operated on a commercial basis.
Asked by: John Grogan (Labour - Keighley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the benefits of re-opening the Skipton to Colne railway.
Answered by Paul Maynard
Where connectivity needs are the key objective, we look to the local authorities concerned to take the first step in evaluating benefits and prioritising available resources.
Local partners in the North share a desire to improve connectivity across the Pennines and their East-West Connectivity Study suggested there will be economic benefits in doing so. They will be actively involved in the Transport for the North’s Central Pennines strategic development corridor study to develop an outline programme and business case.