HC Deb 21 October 2003 vol 411 cc498-500
8. Jane Griffiths (Reading, East)

What plans he has to require the train operating companies to tackle overcrowding on trains during the rush hour. [132967]

The Secretary of State for Transport (Mr. Alistair Darling)

The importance of dealing with overcrowding has been recognised in the directions that I gave to the Strategic Rail Authority. New trains and improved reliability of services will help to reduce overcrowding, as will increased capacity on some lines.

Jane Griffiths

I welcome that reply. Will my right hon. Friend, in the course of the franchise renewal process—I am thinking particularly of the renewal of the First Great Western franchise that is due in 2006—introduce a provision whereby overcrowding must be tackled as a condition of that process?

Mr. Darling

Tackling overcrowding is an essential part of the franchising process, although, as I said earlier, the new trains will help. It is worth reminding the House that almost a third of all rolling stock is being replaced within a five-year period, half of which will go on to London commuter lines. That will increase capacity very significantly. The other measures that will help are better timetabling, better management and increased frequency of trains—those, too, relieve overcrowding. Two factors are absolutely essential: first, that we maintain the level of investment in the railways; and secondly, that they are managed more effectively—and the SRA is dealing with that.

Mr. Jonathan Djanogly (Huntingdon)

The hon. Member for Reading, East (Jane Griffiths) mentioned the problem of overcrowding, but is not that merely part of the picture of missed deadlines, toilets and other facilities that do not work, and miserable passengers—frankly, a system that is creaking at the seams, as proven by this week's report?

Mr. Darling

Before the hon. Gentleman gets too excited, I remind him that the system was established under the prime ministership of his predecessor in the seat that he represents. Over the past few years, we have been trying to put right some of the mistakes that were made in carrying out that botched privatisation. The railways fundamental problem is that for decades insufficient money was invested in them. We have put that right by doubling that expenditure over a four-year period. We are also ensuring that there is more sensible management. The hon. Gentleman has to face the fact that his prescription of spending less on the railways is hardly likely to deal with overcrowding, let alone passenger comfort or satisfaction.

Mrs. Anne Campbell (Cambridge)

Is my right hon. Friend aware that services on the Cambridge to London line are desperately overcrowded during rush hour periods? The local train operating company, West Anglia Great Northern—WAGN—has told me that it cannot increase the length of the trains because intermediate stations have insufficiently long platforms. Will he take that up with the Strategic Rail Authority?

Mr. Darling

I am aware of the problem. Naturally, if trains are lengthened, all the platforms along the route have to be lengthened at the same time. It comes back to the same point: we are trying to make up for decades of underinvestment by spending very substantial sums on the railways. It will not be possible to do everything that we should all like to do. The one thing that I am clear about, however, is that reducing expenditure on the railways would exacerbate the current problems. It is essential that we maintain investment while improving management, both of which are Government priorities.

Mr. Tim Collins (Westmorland and Lonsdale)

Given that overcrowding on trains during the rush hour is particularly acute on the London tube, does the Secretary of State understand the natural concern about recent incidents there? Will he join me, however, in issuing a clear statement to Londoners that the tube remains by far the safest way of getting around the capital city, and in condemning the Mayor of London, who has given the opposite impression?

Mr. Darling

I agree that the tube has an extremely good safety record. Clearly, the incidents at Hammersmith and Camden Town are a matter of deep concern, and safety must be of paramount importance not just on the tube, but on the surface railway. The underground is publicly owned and accountable to the Mayor, who retains responsibility for the safety of the tube. London Underground has told us that the maintenance regime on the tube has not changed since the company took it over in July. Indeed, London Underground controls the maintenance regime, and changes can be made and implemented only with its agreement. I agree with the hon. Gentleman that most people accept that the tube is safe. What happened is a matter of substantial concern.

It is patently obvious that many of the problems affecting the tube, like those affecting the surface railway, have come about as a result of years of under-investment. The partnership that we put in place will allow £16 billion of investment to go into the tube over the next 15 years. I know that the disruption at the weekend is continuing to cause people concern, but we will work with Transport for London and London Underground to find out what happened and learn the lessons of that very quickly.

Mr. Collins

Although I welcome that reply, I point out to the Secretary of State that overcrowding on trains in the rush hour on other tube lines will be worse for some days as a result of the incident on the Northern line. In light of that, was it wise for London Underground to change its daily track inspection procedures to track inspections every two or three days—a change that, I understand, was made while the right hon. Gentleman was still responsible for London Underground, and immediately prior to its transfer to Transport for London?

Mr. Darling

At present, we do not know the cause of the accident. We know that a cracked rail is one of the factors being considered in relation to the Hammersmith incident. It is not yet clear what caused the Camden incident. I agree that we need to find out what happened and learn the lessons from it. People travelling on the tube expect London Underground to do everything possible to make sure that journeys are both safe and reliable. On the hon. Gentleman's general point about overcrowding, the additional investment will improve the quality of trains, track and signalling, and allow for additional capacity. He needs to face the fact that, unless he is prepared to sign up to that sustained investment over years, the problems in London Underground will simply recur.