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 Andrew Jones
Franchise Agreement train service specification (typically Train Service Requirements) are published on the .GOV website and the General Provisions include the specified service requirements for Bank Holidays and Boxing Day, the table below lists the requirements per franchised operator.
The Christmas and New Year period is historically a time for major engineering works around the rail network as fewer people are travelling, therefore the ability to schedule the specified Boxing Day train services may be adversely affected.
All operators publish changes to their train services for Christmas and New Year, such advice is available through the National Rail website under “Holidays and events.”
Boxing Day (26 December 2018) service requirements:
Franchise (TOC) | Franchise Agreement requirement and Boxing Day services |
Chiltern (Chiltern Railways) | No services are required |
Cross-Country (ArrivaXC) | No services are required |
East Anglia (GreaterAnglia) | On Boxing Day, train services shall be provided between London Liverpool Street and Stansted Airport, calling at Tottenham Hale (or Seven Sisters), Harlow Town and Bishop’s Stortford. The First Service shall arrive at Stansted Airport no later than 0715 and the Last Service shall depart London no earlier than 2315 such that a minimum of 35 services are provided between London Liverpool Street and Stansted Airport. The First Service from Stansted Airport shall arrive at London no later than 0720 and the Last Service shall depart Stansted Airport no earlier than 0030 such that a minimum of 37 services are provided between Stansted Airport and London Liverpool Street. [This year a half-hourly Stansted Express train service to/from Tottenham Hale]. |
East Midlands (EMTrains) | No services are required |
Essex Thameside (c2c) | No services are required |
Great Western (GWR) | No services are required |
Integrated Kent Franchise (Southeastern Railway) | No services are required. [This year a High Speed (HS1) service will run between London St Pancras International and Ashford International]. |
LNER | No services are required |
Inter-City West Coast (Virgin Trains) | No services are required |
Northern (Arriva Rail North) | For the duration of Train Service Requirement(s) 2 and 3, on Boxing Day the Franchisee shall operate a minimum of sixty (60) Passenger Services, on such Routes as the Franchisee may determine. [Northern have requested that this not be delivered for this coming Boxing Day, this is a matter for Rail North who is currently considering this request]. |
South Western (SWR) | No services are required |
Thameslink Southern & Great Northern (GTR) | Train services between London Victoria and Gatwick Airport at half-hourly intervals, to operate from approximately 0500 until approximately 2300; From approximately 0830 until approximately 2100; (i) train services between London Victoria and Three Bridges at half-hourly intervals, calling intermediately at Clapham Junction, East Croydon and Gatwick Airport. Alternate services shall be extended to call at Haywards Heath and Brighton to provide an hourly service between those stations and London Victoria. The requirements for these services may be combined with those between London Victoria and Gatwick Airport; and (ii) stopping train services at half-hourly intervals between: (A) London Victoria and Sutton via Selhurst; and (B) London Victoria and East Croydon via Crystal Palace. [These services will run from London Bridge this year due to infrastructure works preventing services from serving London Victoria. Ticket acceptance is in place and passengers are able to use their ticket on London Underground services between London Victoria and London Bridge]. |
Trans-Pennine Express (First TPE) | No services are required |
West Midlands (West Midland Trains) | No services are required |
Asked by: John Grogan (Labour - Keighley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the outcome is of his discussions with Northern and Transpennine on their franchise commitments to provide train services on Boxing Day 2018.
Answered by Andrew Jones
Under the terms of their Franchise Agreement Arriva Rail North (ARN) were required within 12 months of the start date of the franchise to consult with passengers, user groups, Network Rail, other train operators who operate along the affected routes and other relevant Stakeholders on the potential demand for passenger services on Boxing Day and produce a report. This was submitted to the Rail North Partnership team and highlighted that the direct cost of operation would exceed the estimated revenue, and raised concerns regarding access due to significant engineering activity traditionally carried out at this time of year.
Separately ARN’s Franchise Agreement requires the operation of a minimum of 60 services on Boxing Day from 2018. However, Northern raised concerns about their ability to operate a service on Boxing Day 2018, mainly due to engineering possessions along the routes they wish to operate, and have asked for a derogation until the following year to the current Franchise Agreement which is currently being considered.
Under the terms of their Franchise Agreement TransPennine Express (TPE) were required within 12 months of the start date of the franchise to consult with passengers, user groups, Network Rail, other train operators who operate along the affected routes and other relevant Stakeholders on the potential demand for passenger services on Boxing Day and produce a report. This was submitted to the Rail North Partnership team and recommended that there may be an opportunity to work jointly with ARN and RNP to agree to use funds allocated in the Franchise for future service initiatives (the Service Options Fund) to provide a trial service for a future Boxing day, with terms of such a trial being pre-agreed between the parties.
Unlike ARN, TPE has no obligation under its Franchise Agreement to provide Boxing Day services. Opportunities for funding and delivering such services in the future will be considered alongside other franchise enhancement opportunities.
Asked by: Gavin Robinson (Democratic Unionist Party - Belfast East)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps his Department (a) has taken and (b) plans to take to ensure that the Northern Ireland Boxing Association are included as a constituent part of GB Boxing; and what support the Government can provide for the Northern Ireland Boxing Association's application to join The International Boxing Association.
Answered by Tracey Crouch
I refer the Honourable Member to my response to PQ 179240 on 18th October.
Asked by: Gavin Robinson (Democratic Unionist Party - Belfast East)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he is taking to support boxers from Northern Ireland in representing boxing for (a) Northern Ireland and (b) the UK.
Answered by Tracey Crouch
Athletes in Northern Ireland have the choice as to whether they wish to represent the UK or Ireland in their given sport. However, at times this will be subject to the overarching rules applied by the individual Governing bodies of the sport. Eligibility and selection for international competition remain matters for the relevant sports authorities.
Asked by: Gavin Robinson (Democratic Unionist Party - Belfast East)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether he recognises the Northern Ireland Boxing Association; and whether he supports that association's full participation in boxing throughout the UK.
Answered by Tracey Crouch
Recognition of sport governing bodies is a matter for the sports councils. Sport England, Sport Scotland, Sport Wales, Sport Northern Ireland and UK Sport work collectively to determine recognition. I understand the process for potential recognition for the Northern Ireland Boxing Association has been affected by the current situation with the Stormont government. Sport is devolved and this is a matter for the Northern Ireland authorities.Asked by: John Grogan (Labour - Keighley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with Northern Rail and Transpennine on the provision of services on Boxing Day 2018; and what the outcome of those discussions was.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Marylebone
The Rail North Partnership has had discussions with the operators regarding the provision of Boxing Day services for 2018. At this time, following the announcement yesterday regarding the timetable for the December change date, we are unable to confirm the plans for Boxing Day in 2018.
Asked by: Laura Smith (Labour - Crewe and Nantwich)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the regulatory and statutory framework relating to white collar boxing events.
Answered by Tracey Crouch
The Government does not determine whether sports should introduce a national governing body, this is for the sport to decide.
The process for National Governing Body recognition is a joint policy operated by the four home country sports councils (Sport England, Sport Northern Ireland, Sport Scotland, Sport Wales) and UK Sport. The aim of the recognition process is to identify a single lead NGB structure which governs a sport at UK, GB or home country level.
Asked by: Laura Smith (Labour - Crewe and Nantwich)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a recognised governing body for white collar boxing; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Tracey Crouch
The Government does not determine whether sports should introduce a national governing body, this is for the sport to decide.
The process for National Governing Body recognition is a joint policy operated by the four home country sports councils (Sport England, Sport Northern Ireland, Sport Scotland, Sport Wales) and UK Sport. The aim of the recognition process is to identify a single lead NGB structure which governs a sport at UK, GB or home country level.
Asked by: Laura Smith (Labour - Crewe and Nantwich)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether he has plans to improve the safety of white collar boxing events; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Tracey Crouch
The safety of everyone taking part in sport and physical activity is vital. There will always be risks associated with participating in contact sport, but it is important that robust measures are in place to reduce the risk of major injuries and health issues.
It is not the role of government to regulate sport. Amateur and professional boxing is self-regulated by England Boxing and the British Boxing Board of Control respectively. It is the responsibility of individual white collar boxing event organisers to ensure that they protect the safety and wellbeing of their participants.
Asked by: John Grogan (Labour - Keighley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will publish the proposals of Trans Pennine rail submitted to him on the provision of train services on Boxing Day 2018.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Marylebone
The report has been received from TPE and contains commercially confidential information and is therefore unsuitable for public publication. The proposals contained within the report have been considered by a technical working group, under confidentiality agreement, within Rail North / Transport for North and options will be considered that could see Boxing Day services introduced within the current franchise (running 2016 to 2023).
However, there are a number of issues relating to the introduction of Boxing Day services, most notably the infrastructure works required to deliver capacity improvements that are often undertaken during Christmas / Boxing Day closures. It should also be noted that Boxing Day services are not contracted through the existing TPE Franchise Agreement and additional funding is expected to be needed to deliver such services.