§ Mr. Patrick ThompsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures he is taking to improve bus-to-rail connections. [13107]
§ Mr. NorrisThe Government recognise the importance of ease of interchange for people using both buses and trains. By maximising private sector involvement, through our policies of privatisation and deregulations, we expect to see connections improve as bus and rail operators respond innovatively to passenger demand and seek to generate custom. The winning franchisee for South West Trains has committed itself to introducing a number of dedicated bus links to SWT stations. In the publication PPG 13: "A guide to better practice", which we published last October, we stressed the need for local authorities to consider both the location and the attractiveness of bus to rail and bus to bus interchanges when developing their transport strategies.