§ Mr. FlightTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment he has made as to the adequacy of(a) rail services and (b) bus services between Arundel and South Downs and London. [18326]
§ Mr. JamiesonNo formal assessment of rail or coach services has been made.
On rail travel, the Strategic Rail Authority is negotiating a new South Central franchise with GoVia, who have recently assumed ownership of the existing franchise. The Strategic Rail Authority's Strategic Plan, which will be published in the near future, will set out its priorities for enhancement of the network.
While we recognise the value of long-distance coach services, decisions on what services to provide are a matter for commercial operators responding to passenger demand.