Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Department for Transport

Oral Answers to Questions

Mohammad Yasin Excerpts
Thursday 11th October 2018

(5 years, 6 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Nusrat Ghani Portrait Ms Ghani
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My hon. Friend is right: if the Mayor of London spent as much time fixing the tube station as he did promoting himself at the station, it would be far more accessible. As my hon. Friend is aware, transport in London is devolved to the Mayor and delivered by Transport for London, so it is for the Mayor to determine his accessibility policy and the provision of step-free access at individual stations.

Mohammad Yasin Portrait Mohammad Yasin (Bedford) (Lab)
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There is no step-free access at Bedford station while much needed repairs are made to the lifts, but passengers were not informed until days before of the severe disruption to their journeys. Govia Thameslink Railway is already facing potential fines for not keeping passengers informed. Does the Minister agree that no lessons have been learned from the chaos over the summer?

Nusrat Ghani Portrait Ms Ghani
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Bedford station is, I believe, fitted for step-free access. It is unfortunate that the lifts are broken and that they have not been repaired quickly. Hopefully, the hon. Gentleman raising the matter today will alert GTR and Network Rail to the need to get their act into gear. I know that taxis are available for passengers who need the service, but the lifts should be fixed.