The Department for Transport completed franchise agreements for the Great Western, Thameslink/Great Northern and Integrated Kent franchises in December 2005.
Present service levels are contained in the National Rail timetable published by Network Rail. Service levels to be provided under the Greater Western franchise with effect from December 2006 are set out in the consultation timetable published by First Great Western in January 2006, as amended by the operator in announcements on 3 April and 15 June 2006. No changes to Thameslink/Great Northern services are proposed. Future changes to services in the Integrated Kent franchise are set out in briefing documents published on the Department's website.
The South Western franchise tenders have been received. The detailed specification for this is available on the Department's web site.
The specification for the new Cross Country, West Midlands and East Midlands franchises is still being prepared and will not be finalised until October 2006.
I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 24 January 2006, Official Report, columns 1990-2W to the hon. Member for Rochdale (Paul Rowen). The average age has not changed materially since this date.
The subsidy/premium profile for the Greater Western franchise has been published on the Department’s website. This can be compared with the subsidy and premiums associated with the former constituent franchises (First Great Western, First Great Western Link and Wessex Trains) in 2005-06, published by the Office of Rail Regulation in its document “National Rail Trends Yearbook” and is available on its website.
The information is not held by the Department in the format requested.
This information is not held by the Department for Transport. Information relating to vandalism and trespass on railway lines is held by the British Transport police who can be contacted at: British Transport police, 25 Camden Road, London NW1 9LN, e-mail: general.enquiries@btp.pnn. police.uk.
This information is not held by the Department for Transport. Information relating to arson on the railways is held by the British Transport police who can be contacted at: British Transport police, 25 Camden Road, London NW1 9LN, e-mail: general.enquiries@.btp.pnn.police.uk.
This information is not held by the Department for Transport. Information relating to criminal damage and trespass on railway lines is held by the British Transport police who can be contacted at: British Transport police, 25 Camden Road, London NW1 9LN. E-mail: general.enquiries@btp.pnn.police.uk.