Mr. GamierTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he last met representatives of the Association of Train Operating Companies to discuss train reliability and punctuality. [112177]
§ Mr. PrescottI met ATOC in November 1998 and agreed an action plan for short-term improvements in performance across the railway network. At the National Rail Summit in February 1999, I announced a number of longer-term initiatives based on the establishment of the shadow Strategic Rail Authority. I will be discussing progress on the industry 10-point plan, which covered train safety, reliability and punctuality, with ATOC and Railtrack at the next National Rail Summit in May.