§ Mr. BrakeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of passenger loading on the Thameslink rail route. [85691]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonPassenger counts are required by the terms of Thameslink's franchise agreement. The last counts were undertaken in the Autumn of 1998; and the results published on 29 March 1999 showed passenger loadings to be above the contractual threshold. In accordance with the contractual obligations of their franchise agreement Thameslink is producing for the Franchising Director a Feasibility Study considering options for additional capacity.
§ Mr. DismoreTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the planned reduction in service by Thameslink, to and from Hendon. [85712]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonThameslink have made marginal changes to peak services in their Summer 1999 timetable. One morning train no longer calls at Hendon. The minimum level of service which the operator must provide is set out in the Passenger Service Requirement (PSR) which is the key part of the franchise agreement under which services are provided. PSRs are based on the services which were being operated by British Rail at the time of franchising. Thameslink's PSR specifies a weekly half hourly service between Hendon and London. In the Summer 1999 timetable Hendon continues to receive 60 services from London Kings Cross Thameslink and 63 services to London Kings Cross Thameslink.