§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport how British rail operators will be penalised for ignoring the new passenger service requirements. [17366]
§ Mr. WattsFranchise operators will enter into a contract with the franchising director through the franchise agreement, which will require them to operate the services specified in the passenger service requirement. If operators do not deliver a timetable compliant with PSR, the franchising director may impose penalties, or, as a last resort, terminate the franchise agreement.
In respect of the first four franchises for which PSRs have been developed, British Rail confirmed at the time of the PSR consultation that its operators will continue to operate the existing level of service until such time as services are franchised to the private sector. The PSR is based broadly on the existing BR timetable.
§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he has taken to inform the public of the new passenger service requirements; and what procedure they must follow in complaints about any operator not following the passenger service requirements. [17367]
§ Mr. WattsThe franchising director is currently considering the responses to a comprehensive consultation with rail users consultative committees and local authorities about the first four proposed passenger service requirements. These represent the detailed contractual framework within which operators must draw up their passenger timetable. Operators will be under an obligation 1081W to publish comprehensive information about their timetable.
Operators must submit to the franchising director details of their proposed timetable. The franchising director will ensure that these are compliant with the PSR and will also monitor the actual services run. The franchising director may impose penalties if the PSR is not delivered. If passengers have complaints about services, these should be directed in the first instance to the train operator, and if they remain dissatisfied they should refer to the appropriate RUCC.
§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport when all railways will be given passenger service requirements; and if they will be managed uniformly. [17368]
§ Mr. WattsA passenger service requirement will be included in each franchise agreement that the franchising director makes with a franchise operator for the provision of passenger services. The franchising director has a statutory objective to franchise passenger services as soon as is reasonably practicable, and has a target to franchise at least 51 per cent. of passenger services by April 1996. He is currently developing a performance regime that will apply to all franchise operators.