§ Mr. HoramTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many peak-time train services serving(a) Chelsfield, (b) Knockholt and (c) Dunton Green (i) there are at present and (ii) are proposed by the Strategic Rail Authority in the Integrated Kent Franchise. [167651]
780W
§ Mr. McNulty[holding answer 23 April 2004]: The numbers of peak trains (arriving at the London terminus between 0700 and 0959) are:
present proposed Chelsfield 12 6 Knockholt 7 3 Dunton Green 7 3
§ Mr. HoramTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish the passenger usage data for(a) Chelsfield, (b) Knockholt and (c) Dunton Green that the Strategic Rail Authority used in their consultation document on the Integrated Kent Franchise, broken down by (i) passengers buying season tickets and those rot and (ii) passengers taking fast peak-hour trains to London and those taking slow, stopping trains in the peak period. [167652]
§ Mr. McNulty[holding answer 23 April 2004]: This information is not available in the format requested. Ticket information for the year 2002–03 suggests that the average number of passenger journeys to and from these stations per day was:
Season Ordinary Total Chelsfield 1,700 350 2,050 Knockholt 180 130 310 Dunton Green 110 40 150
§ Mr. HoramTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assumptions were made by the Strategic Rail Authority in the Integrated Kent Franchise document about(a) current and (b) future capacity in the peak-hour train services between Chelsfield, Knockholt, Dunton Green and London. [167653]
§ Mr. McNulty[holding answer 23 April 2004]: Based on current rolling stock diagrams, and assumed train formations under IKF, the total number of seats on trains that stop at these stations in the morning peak period will be as follows:
Current Proposed Chelsfield 8,200 4,620 Knockholt 5,300 2,310 Dunton Green 5,300 2310
§ Mr. HoramTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assumptions were made by the Strategic Rail Authority in the Integrated Kent Franchise about the number of peak-time passengers who will be diverted from(a) Chelsfield, (b) Knockholt and (c) Dunton Green to other stations because of the reduction in services; and what plans there are to (i) identify and (ii) address the consequences of diversion of passengers for (A) car parking and (B) disabled access. [167654]
§ Mr. McNulty[holding answer 23 April 2004]: The modelling work undertaken to date has been at a strategic level. Bidders for the Integrated Kent 781W Franchise will be expected to tailor train capacity and local infrastructure based on their own demand forecasts.
§ Mr. DrewTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the Rail Review is expected to be completed; and when he plans to make a statement. [167973]
§ Mr. McNulty[holding answer 23 April 2004]: As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport, said in his Statement to the House on 19 January, the review's conclusions will be published in the summer.
§ Mr. PickthallTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the owners or rolling stock leased by train operators. [168181]
§ Mr. McNultyVirtually all the rolling stock leased by passenger train operating companies is owned by either Porterbrook Leasing, HSBC, Angel Trains or Halifax Asset Financing.
§ Mr. BestTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will make a statement or the progress being made in improving disabled access to trains; [168659]
(2) if he will bring forward the end date for inaccessible trains to 2020. [168662]
§ Mr. McNultySince the Rail Vehicle Accessibility Regulations into force in 1999, hundreds of new trains, which comply with the high standards of access for disabled people required by the regulations, have been introduced. These include 1,400 new carriages which have come into service in the last 2½ years. Another 1,000 are due in the next 18 months. In addition, many older trains, while not meeting full RVAR standards already have wheelchair accommodation and other features to assist disabled passengers.
We have recently consulted on a number of proposals to amend the rail provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act. These include setting an 'end date' by which time all rail vehicles would have to comply with the Rail Vehicle Accessibility Regulations. We have not yet taken a final decision on the best date to set. We are currently analysing the consultation responses and looking carefully at the costs and benefits of a range of options, including 2020. We will consult on the draft regulations needed to implement our proposals when the required new primary legislation is introduced in the form of the Disability Discrimination Bill.