Railways: Thames Valley

Mrs. May
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 8 March 2007, Official Report, columns 2131-2W, on railways: Thames Valley, if he will place in the Library (a) copies of the information provided to his Department by First Great Western of their (i) assessment of and (ii) plans to meet passenger demand to and from Maidenhead and Twyford and (b) his Department’s analysis of those proposals.

Mr. Tom Harris
The Department does not publish contents of bids on the grounds of commercial confidentiality. The Department’s analysis of franchise bid information provides the basis for further clarification and any subsequent negotiations with bidders. Publication of officials’ assessments would be prejudicial to the department’s commercial interests.

The Greater Western Franchise Agreement contains details of the franchisee's ongoing obligations in relation to capacity and is available on the Secretary of State’s public register. The register can be consulted on application to the Department.

Mrs. May
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 8 March 2007, Official Report, columns 2131-32W, on railways: Thames Valley, what First Great Western’s ongoing obligations are in relation to capacity as defined in the Greater Western Franchise.

Mr. Tom Harris
The obligation for capacity in the First Greater Western (FGW) National Rail Franchise Terms requires that the Franchisee use reasonable endeavours in planning its timetable and the rolling stock diagrams needed to implement it, to provide passengers with a reasonable expectation of a seat off peak and within 20 minutes of boarding during the peak period.

The Greater Western Franchise Agreement is available on the Secretary of State’s public register. The register can be consulted on application to the Department.

Mrs. May
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 2 March 2007, Official Report, column 1574W, on Railways: Thames Valley, what changes to the timetable and consequential amendments were agreed between the Secretary of State and FGW during their discussions in February and March 2006 on the December 2006 timetable; and what changes and amendments were refused by either party.

Mr. Tom Harris
The changes which were agreed between the Secretary of State and First Great Western (‘FGW’) are set out in Appendix 11 of the FGW franchise agreement. The agreement is available on the Secretary of State’s public register. The register can be consulted on application to the Department.

No potential changes or amendments in relation to the Thames Valley were refused.

Mrs. May
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 2 March 2007, Official Report, column 1574W, on Railways: Thames Valley, if he will set out the figures for the established passenger loads during the stated time periods for journeys from, and to, Maidenhead and Twyford stations.

Mr. Tom Harris
The data referred to in the previous answer are contained in the “Market, Service and Review Report” produced for the Strategic Rail Authority in June 2004. A copy has been placed in the Libraries of the House.