§ Mr. PriorTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what measures the Government will propose to the Director of Opraf to increase the number of passenger train services that run according to schedule. [53564]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonLast November, we issued new Objectives, Instructions and Guidance to the Franchising Director which require him to secure a progressive improvement in the quality of passenger railway services and to maintain a comprehensive and rigorous programme of performance monitoring. As announced in our White Paper "A New Deal for Transport", we will amend the Railways Act 1993 so that financial penalties for poor performance can be imposed much faster and past infringements penalised. Train operators will also be judged on their current performance before any new contracts are agreed.