Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to ensure that rail passengers in North East Hampshire constituency are represented in decisions on (a) timetable changes and (b) station improvements.

South Western Railway (SWR) is developing a network-wide timetable refresh, which includes services affecting North East Hampshire. As part of this process, the operator is required to undertake public consultation on proposed timetable changes, enabling passengers, local authorities and other stakeholders to provide views before proposals are finalised.

Passenger views on station improvements are reflected through engagement led by train operators and local partners when enhancement schemes are developed. In addition, the independent watchdog, Transport Focus, represents the interests of rail users and provides evidence and challenge to ensure passenger priorities are taken into account. These arrangements help ensure that the views of passengers in North East Hampshire are considered in decisions on both timetables and station improvements.