HC Deb 10 February 1997 vol 290 cc13-4
11. Sir Alan Haselhurst

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many representations he has received about the performance of the train operating companies since privatisation. [13355]

Mr. Watts

My Department and the franchising director have received 241 letters about the performance of franchised services since franchised operations started, which for some services is now over a year ago.

Sir Alan Haselhurst

Will my hon. Friend contrast the reaction following privatisation with the doom and gloom that we heard before privatisation? Are we not starting to see a steady stream of investment and improvement in the railways? All the services are being maintained at least at the level that existed before privatisation and we have the prospect of improvements in track investment—not only the investment that Railtrack has just announced for the West Anglia line serving my constituency, but investment all around the compass.

Mr. Watts

My hon. Friend is entirely right and, to put those 241 letters into context, those same franchise services will have carried 510 million passengers over the last year. He is right to draw attention to the substantial improvements in services that are being delivered, such as West Anglia Great Northern, which serves his own constituency, and the commitment to introduce a third Stansted skytrain service per hour when necessary to accommodate rising demand. It is a story of new rolling stock, more services for passengers and services being maintained at least at their level before privatisation—and all at substantially lower cost to the taxpayer. It is a double win for passengers and taxpayers.

Mr. Bradley

How many of the representations that the Minister has received from the public relate to the chaos in customer information? Does he accept the view expressed by the Rail Regulator in his recent report that he expects the new customer information system to Do much better than it is doing today in providing information about railway services"? Is the Minister satisfied with the fulfilment of obligations imposed on private rail operators to provide passengers with details of the cheapest fares and the most rapid journey times available, including those on fares and times relating to competing companies?

Mr. Watts

The last time I was asked a question regarding complaints about passenger information, the answer was 12 complaints from genuine members of the public. Unlike organisations that make bogus complaints, most passengers wishing, for example, to travel to the west country would not go to King's Cross to obtain information on services. On Tuesday 4 February, the first anniversary of the Great Western franchise, I opened the new telephone inquiry bureau in Cardiff, which has expanded capacity and new high-tech equipment and which is fully equipped to give impartial information—a licence condition for all rail operators.