Minimum service levels for rail
Wednesday 22 March at 09:30, Committee Room 8
The Transport Committee holds the first session of its new inquiry into how
minimum service levels may in future apply to the rail
sector.
The cross-party Committee will use this session to learn about
the impact that industrial action has had on both freight and
passenger services, and how different rail users, businesses and
areas of the country have been affected.
MPs may ask the witnesses, who include representatives of the
Rail Freight Group, UK Hospitality and Transport Focus, how a
minimum level of service could be designed and implemented, which
routes could be prioritised and how the needs of freight users
and passengers could be balanced. They may also consider the pros
and cons of two options set out by the Government in its ongoing
consultation: basing service levels on a proportion of normal
timetables, or prioritising certain routes.
The Department for Transport has said all operators develop
contingency plans for industrial action and publish timetables
while “attempting to deliver a reliable, albeit much reduced
service”. It said that some areas of the country will see little
to no services on strike days, and that the ability of the
employer to react to strikes on train services is dependent on
the type of staff participating in the strike action.
Witnesses from 09.30:
- Phil Smart, Assistant Policy
Manager, Rail Freight Group
From 10.30:
-
, Chief Executive,
Transport Focus
- Kate Nicholls OBE, CEO, UK
Hospitality
