Rail Franchising Debate

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Department: Department for Transport
Tuesday 26th March 2013

(11 years, 1 month ago)

Commons Chamber
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Lord McLoughlin Portrait Mr McLoughlin
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I am grateful to my hon. Friend for that. The truth is that we are putting massive further investment into the railways. That has to be paid for by both the fare payer and the taxpayer, but it is right that we try to get that balance right. I am pleased that the Chancellor was able to take the increases down to RPI plus 1%, not only for this year, but for next year.

Marcus Jones Portrait Mr Marcus Jones (Nuneaton) (Con)
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I welcome my right hon. Friend’s statement and his intent to put the interests of passengers at the heart of rail franchising. The best interests of rail passengers in my constituency would be served by the reinstatement of fast off-peak services to Nuneaton, which were taken away by the previous Labour Government in 2008. Will he come to Nuneaton and meet me to discuss this vital issue at greater length?

Lord McLoughlin Portrait Mr McLoughlin
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I am certainly more than happy to meet my hon. Friend at Nuneaton station. I believe that a date is going in my diary this afternoon—if it was not already, it will be now.