Oral Answers to Questions

Richard Foord Excerpts

Thursday 11th September 2025 Commons Chamber

[Simon Lightwood]

I share my hon. Friend’s view that the term “invalid carriages” in the existing legislation is outdated and no longer reflects modern attitudes or needs. This Government are committed to ensuring that disabled people have the same freedom to travel as everyone else and we recognise that mobility devices are vital for many. That is why we are reviewing the legal frameworks surrounding mobility devices, including the outdated terminology, and we will consult on that in due course.

[Richard Foord (Honiton and Sidmouth) (LD)]

17. What recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of passenger rail infrastructure.

[The Secretary of State for Transport (Heidi Alexander)]

Good rail infrastructure supports reliable services and economic growth, and is a central part of this Government’s growth mission. In July, I set out my priority for improvements to the rail network as part of giving the green light to over 50 road and rail upgrades, supporting over 39,000 new homes and 42,000 jobs. That included plans for stations at Cullompton in the hon. Member’s constituency, and in Wellington.

[Richard Foord]

Rail travellers are used to the excuse of leaves on the line, but travellers on the railway between Exeter and London Waterloo have recently encountered a new one: soil moisture deficit. Dualling the line on a three-mile section of the track near Whimple could give passengers travelling on the west of England line two trains per hour. Will the Minister please look favourably at that modest investment, which would improve frequency, reliability and resilience for one of the two main rail routes into the south-west?

[Heidi Alexander]

I understand the frustration of the travelling public. We experienced a particularly dry summer this year and Network Rail had made preparations to deal with that, but I recognise that “dry soil” is as frustrating as “leaves on the line”. I will certainly look into the specific scheme that the hon. Gentleman suggests and I am happy to write to him with more information on that.