§ Mr. Ben ChapmanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussions he has had with the Rail Regulator about the delays in boarding Liverpool trains at Euston Station. [126421]
§ Mr. HillThe Franchising Director, not the Rail Regulator, is responsible for monitoring delays in the boarding of trains. The Secretary of State has had no discussions with the Franchising Director about delays in boarding Liverpool trains at Euston station.
§ Mr. Ben ChapmanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received on the timekeeping of West Coast Main Line trains between Liverpool and Euston. [126422]
§ Mr. HillThe Secretary of State has not received any representations about the timekeeping of West Coast Main Line trains between Liverpool and Euston. All trains on the West Coast Main Line have been subject to some delays due to the West Coast Main Line upgrade, but consequential amendments have been to the timetable and timekeeping has remained constant. The Franchising Director's publication 'On Track' (copies of which are available in the House Libraries) shows that 80.6 per cent. of West Coast Main Line trains arrived at their destination within 10 minutes of the advertised time in the year to 31 March 2000. This was an improvement on the 72.8 per cent. achieved in the previous year.
§ Mr. Ben ChapmanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussions he has had with the Rail Regulator on the timekeeping of West Coast Main Line services between Liverpool Lime Street and Euston. [126420]
§ Mr. HillThe Franchising Director not the Rail Regulator is responsible for monitoring the timekeeping of trains. The Secretary of State has had no discussions with the Franchising Director about the timekeeping of West Coast Main Line services between Liverpool and Euston.
§ Mr. Ben ChapmanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received about delays in boarding Liverpool trains at Euston station. [126511]
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§ Mr. HillThe Secretary of State has received no representations relating specifically to delays in boarding trains to Liverpool at Euston station. Development work in connection with the West Coast Main Line upgrade has resulted in a number of platforms at Euston being closed between May and September of this year. The consequential shortage of platforms has meant that upon arrival trains unload passengers and are then cleaned and stored out of the immediate station area, returning to the departure platform shortly before departure time. This has resulted in reduced intervals between trains being available for loading and departure times but this is common to all services from Euston.
§ Mr. Ben ChapmanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussions took place at the Rail Summit about the timekeeping of West Coast Main Line services between Liverpool Lime Street and Euston. [126782]
§ Mr. HillTimekeeping of West Coast Main Line services between Liverpool Lime Street and Euston was not discussed at the Rail Summit.
§ Mr. Ben ChapmanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make it a condition when re-awarding the franchise for the West Coast Main Line that the level of on-board services between Liverpool Lime Street and Euston Station is improved. [126781]
§ Mr. HillThe present franchise for the West Coast Main Line is not due to be replaced until 9 March 2012. The franchise, in common with all the other passenger rail franchises, does not contain any provisions stipulating what on-board services must be provided. It is not envisaged that there will be any such provisions in any of the replacement franchises.