§ 20. Mr. MerchantTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on progress on franchising passenger services in the south of England. [24737]
§ Mr. WattsFranchises have been awarded for South West Trains, Great Western, Gatwick Express and Network SouthCentral. Grants will reduce from £243 million paid to British Rail in 1995–96 to £95 million in year seven for private operators.
All franchises will operate at least the existing number of trains with some service enhancements. London and South Coast Railways, which has been awarded the Network SouthCentral franchise, intends to introduce new off-peak and Sunday services to south London.
35WInvitations to tender have been issued for other south of England franchises—South Eastern, Chiltern and South Wales and West—and LTS Rail has been re-tendered to previously shortlisted bidders.