§ Mr. MackinlayTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 5 May 1999,Official Report, column 396, concerning services to Fenchurch Street Station, if he will introduce legislation to improve the level and speed of compensation for customers in respect of infrastructure failures which are the responsibility of Railtrack. [83714]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonCompensation to passengers for delays and cancellations, whatever their cause, is paid under the Passenger's Charter. These payments are made directly to passengers by the Train Operating Companies (TOCs) with which they travelled. All TOCs were required as part of their franchise agreements to publish a Passenger's Charter and the level of compensation offered and the events which triggered such payments were required to be as good or better than those offered by British Rail. The Franchising Director cannot unilaterally require improvements.
§ Mr. MackinlayTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 5 May 1999,Official Report, column 396, concerning services to Fenchurch Street Station, what action the Government are taking to ensure that Railtrack invest sufficiently to reduce the incidence of infrastructure failure. [83716]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonWe made it clear at the National Rail Summit in February that the Government is prepared to work in partnership with the railway industry to deliver a better rail service and increased investment. But Railtrack must play its part in creating a high quality, high growth, high investment railway. We have appointed Sir Alastair Morton to lead the shadow Strategic Rail Authority, and Tom Winsor as Rail Regulator, to ensure that that investment is delivered.