Beverley and Holderness MP has held an urgent meeting
with the Managing Director of Hull Trains, Louise Cheeseman, to
get an update on the train operator’s situation as a result of
the coronavirus crisis.
Hull Trains have suspended their operations since
30th March following the Government’s guidance
that services should be for essential travel only, leading to an
increase in the number of people working from home.
As an ‘Open Access Operator’, Hull Trains’ sole revenue
comes from their ticket sales as opposed to franchised operators
which operate under contract from the Government. They are one of
only two such train operators in the country, along with Grand
Central – operating out of Bradford and Sunderland – which
suspended its operations shortly after Hull Trains on
3rd April.
Such operators were designed to introduce greater
competition to franchised operators – reducing prices for
customers – so long as they secured approval that their
introduction would not hinder other services from the Office of
Rail & Road.
As a result, Hull Trains have been left out of the
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps’ move to allow the Government to
cover the risks and costs of franchised operators in order to
ensure that services are maintained for key workers and others
who are unable to work from home.
Speaking after the meeting, Graham said: “The Government
has put in place a wide package of unprecedented support for
businesses to take advantage of, including Hull Trains. For
example, they have been able to furlough the vast majority of
their staff, helping them to cope with their third-biggest
rolling cost.
“I’ve also been pushing with Ministers to improve the
Government-backed loan schemes that have been introduced through
dozens of accredited lenders. Ministers have responded on several
occasions – increasing the interest-free period on all loans and
introducing the Bounce Back Loan Scheme that’s easier to
access.
“But I will be working to see what more can be done to
support Hull Trains as a local business which brings tourism and
connections to my constituency through its direct services to
London from Beverley and Hull. I know from having to travel to
London myself to answer parliamentary questions recently, that
having to drive or get the train to Doncaster to get down to the
capital just isn’t really feasible for people in Beverley and
Holderness.”
Ms Cheeseman added, “I’m really grateful for the ongoing
support we have received from MPs, councillors and businesses in
the region who are focussed on getting Hull Trains up and running
again as soon as possible.
“I’m local myself, so I know how important it is for Hull
and the East Riding to keep these connections and build on the
progress that Hull Trains has made over the past two
decades.
“I hope that Graham’s able to make some headway with the
Government in highlighting the opportunities that open access can
offer in connecting the people of The East Riding and Hull with
the East Coast Main Line stations and the capital.”
Notes to Editor
· Graham
is seeking meetings with Transport for the North following his
meeting with Hull Trains, as well as making representations
directly to the Rail Minister .
