Train Service
Providers
(Weston-super-Mare) (Con)
4. What assessment he has made of the potential impact of
proposals in the Williams-Shapps plan for rail on the choice of
train service providers available to rail passengers.
(900810)
The Minister of State, Department for Transport ()
Great British Railways will incentivise improved services for
rail users through new passenger service contracts, and there
will be opportunities for new and innovative open access services
where spare capacity exists.
I share the Minister’s attractive vision for more choice and
variety on our railways; the trouble is that that is not what the
Government’s plans will introduce. They weaken competition,
reduce choice and extend state central planning and control
enormously. Anyone using Hull Trains, Lumo or Grand
Central Rail can kiss them goodbye, because they will be the last
of their kind. I could understand it if these proposals were
being introduced by a Labour Government, but they are not. It is
we Conservatives who are doing this, not them. I urge Ministers
to take a long, hard look in the mirror before introducing any
legislation based on these plans.
I am conscious of my hon. Friend’s strong interest in open-access
services. Where there is spare capacity on the network, we will
support applications from open-access providers who promise new
and innovative services that benefit passengers without leading
to significant costs for taxpayers. To be clear, I assure him
that as part of the Government’s reform proposals the Office of
Rail and Road will maintain its role as the independent regulator
for access, ensuring that applications are treated fairly, and it
will be able to direct GBR to grant access should it think it
appropriate.
