(Keighley) (Lab):...In
this more optimistic picture, Transpennine rail has an obligation
in its franchise to make proposals to Ministers and to Transport
for the North to run services across the Pennines. I understand
that it has emphasised making proposals for the aforementioned
Manchester airport, and that that is with Ministers and Transport
for the North. I very much hope Ministers take an enlightened
approach. I well remember a meeting about this in 2009 with
, marvellous man that he is, but I
think that he rather humoured me and his mind was on High Speed 2
and very important projects such as that. These are little details,
but I feel confident that this Minister is a man of such detail.
(Cleethorpes)
(Con): On the subject of Transpennine, which provides
the main services via the south trans-Pennine route between
Manchester airport and Cleethorpes, when he has those
discussions, will he make special mention of the fact not only
that my constituents want to get to Manchester airport, but that
of course people will flock in their thousands to Cleethorpes,
where Grimsby Town will probably be playing at home next Boxing
day?
: They will, and the
seaside in winter is particularly attractive.
I end by saying that I have every hope that both Front-Bench
teams will get behind the idea of Boxing day transport.
Devolution will help. This is one way of ensuring that the
northern powerhouse in particular—obviously, I am concerned for
the rest of the country as well—is powered for one extra day a
year.
The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Joseph
Johnson):...I know that the hon. Gentleman is
particularly interested in the consultation and associated
reports prepared by the Northern and Transpennine Express
franchises. I can confirm that those have been submitted and are
being considered by the Rail North Partnership. I appreciate that
he would wish me to confirm that we will be running services on
both franchises, but I am sure that he will also understand that
we should allow Rail North, the franchises and Network Rail the
opportunity fully to consider and assess the feasibility of the
proposals first. I also note that, in focusing on the needs of
our passengers, we must look at the needs of the widest number of
the travelling public. As I am sure the hon. Gentleman is aware,
the rail network uses periods of lower demand, which will usually
include Boxing day, to complete essential engineering
works—essential, as he knows, if we are to undertake maintenance
work that is critical to the reliable performance that passengers
demand, and essential, too, for major upgrade work, delivering
the additional capacity on the network that passengers want.
The hon. Gentleman focused rightly on the north of England. I
gently remind him that we are spending £13 billion on northern
transport—the largest investment in a generation—£3.8 billion of
which will be invested in rail schemes. By 2020, the great north
rail project will see the arrival of brand new trains for
customers across the region. Northern and Transpennine Express
will deliver more than 500 new carriages, with room for 40,000
extra passengers, as well as 2,000 extra services a week. We hope
that this will help transform the passenger experience and
improve reliability...
...Elsewhere, recent rail franchise awards will deliver
brand new, more reliable trains for passengers travelling on
South Western, East Anglia and London Midland services. This year
will also see the completion of Thameslink and Crossrail, which
will deliver desperately needed new capacity, thereby improving
performance reliability for passengers and freight. On
the Great Western network, we are
investing an unprecedented £5 billion to deliver faster, more
reliable services and new trains with thousands more seats...
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