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Railways

Volume 454: debated on Thursday 14 December 2006

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many train services were cancelled mid-journey because they were overcrowded in the last 12 months. (108912)

The information requested is of an operational nature, and is not held by the Department. When it becomes necessary to cancel a train during its journey, it is understood the recorded cause would relate to the immediate operational reason, rather than to any crowding which may have contributed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his Department’s most recent estimate is of the number of rail passengers from Scotland and the North-West whose journeys continue beyond Birmingham. (108398)

[holding answer 11 December 2006]: The Department is unable to release detailed passenger flow data of the number of rail passengers from Scotland and the North-West whose journeys continue beyond Birmingham as this would compromise the commercial position of train operators. However the New Cross-Country Stakeholder briefing document, published on the Department for Transport website at www.dft.gov.uk. gives examples of the level of passenger flows.

The following is an extract from the New-Cross Country Stakeholder briefing document.

The following tables offer data, derived from rail industry systems, as a reference towards the quantum of daily Cross-Country passenger flows originating at some key origin points:

Daily average of Cross-Country Weekday Return Journeys originating at Glasgow Central

Number

Preston1

62

Birmingham NS1

108

Bristol TM2, 3

10

Plymouth2, 3

9

1 Denotes direct services available in New Cross-Country

2 Denotes change of train necessary in New Cross-County

3 Limited direct journey opportunities available with greater comparative journey duration

Daily average of Cross-Country Weekday Return Journeys originating at Oxenholme

Number

Preston1

60

Birmingham NS1

21

Bristol TM2

10

Plymouth2

2

1 Denotes direct services available in New Cross-Country

2 Denotes change of train necessary in New Cross-County

Daily average of Weekday Return Cross-Country Journeys originating at Exeter St. David’s

Number

Bristol TM1

406

Birmingham NS1

109

Preston2

2

Carlisle2

1

1 Denotes direct services available in New Cross-Country

2 Denotes change of train necessary in New Cross-County

Daily average of Weekday Return Cross-Country Journeys originating at Plymouth

Number

Bristol TM1

188

Birmingham NS2

78

Preston2

10

Carlisle2

4

1 Denotes direct services available in New Cross-Country

2 Denotes change of train necessary in New Cross-County

The sample below serves to illustrate that by swapping the terminating train in each hour at Birmingham from a service which has originated in Manchester to a service which has originated in Scotland, and has run via the English Lakes, the number of instances of people changing trains remains almost balanced.

Daily average of Weekday Cross-Country Journeys commencing at Bristol Temple Meads to combined North-West England and Scottish station groups

Number

Crewe to Glasgow inclusive stations

1101

Stoke and Manchester Piccadilly stations only

2119

1 Route north of Birmingham transferred to Virgin West Coast

2 New Cross-Country defined route

The Department recognises the need to assist all passengers when changing trains and acknowledges the challenges Birmingham New Street station can present to rail users. For many journeys where a change is necessary there will be alternatives such as Wolverhampton, which has seen recent investment in new waiting areas, lifts, a footbridge and customer information systems. Other alternatives include Banbury and Cheltenham Spa, where the operational layout of the station dictates that only same-platform changes are necessary. Derby is also an appropriate alternative where the need to change platforms is highly unlikely.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many station platforms have been temporarily closed due to overcrowding in each of the last five years. (108908)

The information requested is not held by the Department. Train stations are managed generally by Network Rail and individual train operating companies. Inquiries relating to temporary platform closures should be made to Network Rail and the Association of Train Companies, which represents the interests of the train companies, to ascertain whether the information is available in the format required. The contact details are:

Network Rail

Media Office

40 Melton Street

London

NW1 2EE

Tel: 020 7557 8292

Association of Train Operating Companies Ltd

Media Office

3rd Floor

40 Bernard Street

London

Tel: 020 7841 8020

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much was paid to companies to act as an operator of the last resort on behalf of (a) the Strategic Rail Authority and (b) his Department in each of the last five years; how this fee package was structured; what tender process was used to appoint such companies; and if he will make a statement. (106995)

The Department and previously the Strategic Rail Authority have had a contract with one company—First Class Partnerships—relating to the procurement of specialist advice in connection with duties as ‘Operator of Last Resort’. The contract prices and payment schedule are commercially confidential. The latest contract, awarded in July 2004, was let following a competition from one of the Authority’s framework agreements. The framework agreement was let in full compliance with EU procurement rules. The contract was subsequently transferred to the Department in July 2005 when it assumed the Authority’s responsibilities. No train operating company has acted as operators as last resort on behalf of either the SRA or the Department.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions he has had with Network Rail on the performance of North Kent rail services; and if he will make a statement. (108812)

I have frequent meetings with senior industry parties including Network Rail, to examine performance on the Network. Discussion centres on any particular performance problems on the Network, and on the action being taking as a result. I also discuss with Network Rail its current plans to ensure continued improvement on the system as a whole.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the performance figures were for North Kent rail services for the four week periods covering (a) October and (b) November; what the figures were for the same periods in 2005; and if he will make a statement. (108814)

This is an operational matter for Network Rail, as the owner and operator of the national rail network. The hon. Member should contact Network Rail’s Chief Executive at the following address for a response to his question.

John Armitt

Chief Executive

Network Rail

40 Melton Street

London NW1 2EE

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many trains of each train company were cancelled in the last 12 months; how many of those trains were cancelled (a) before reaching their final destination and (b) before departure; and what the reason was for each cancellation. (104408)

I refer the hon. Member to my answer given to the hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland (Mr. Carmichael), 4 December 2006, Official Report, columns 9-10W.