Railways (Hansard, 17 March 2003)

§ Chris Grayling
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to announce his decision on the Central Railway Project. [103060]

§ Mr. Jamieson
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him on 11 March,Official Report, column 120W.

§ Mrs. Dunwoody
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the credit rating is of Network Rail. [101196]

§ Mr. Jamieson
Network Rail expects to secure ratings later this year.

§ Tom Brake
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when safety liaison meetings between ASLEF, management and other partners took place in each of the last five years; and what the normal frequency of such meetings should be. [102395]

§ Mr. Jamieson
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) advise that meetings between managers, safety representatives and trade union representatives are important in ensuring the discharge of the legal duty under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 requiring employers to provide such information, instruction, training and supervision as is necessary to ensure the health and safety of their employees. HSE however do not hold details of the dates of such meetings.
Senior management of the HSE Railway Inspectorate (HMRI) hold regular meetings with the general secretaries of all the principal rail unions to discuss issues of strategic safety importance. 'These meetings are held 2–3 times a year. These high level meetings are complemented by a wide range of local liaison initiatives with ASLEF officials and Trade Union members, including regular local meetings between HMRI inspectors and trade union officials. Details of local liaison meetings are not held centrally.

§ Tom Brake
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with LUL about the restoration of services on the(a) Waterloo and City line and (b) Central line. [102396]

§ Mr. Jamieson
My right hon. Friend and ministerial colleagues meet London Underground representatives on both a regular and ad hoc basis, to discuss a variety of relevant matters.

§ Mr. Grogan
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the(a) Trans-Pennine rail franchise and (b) Northern franchise. [103137]

§ Mr. Jamieson
The Strategic Rail Authority is replacing the existing First North Western and Arriva Trains Northern franchises by reconfigured TransPennine Express and Northern franchises. Connex Transport UK Limited and a consortium of FirstGroup and Keolis SDA have been short-listed as bidders for the TransPennine538W Express franchise. Expressions of interest have been invited for the Northern franchise and the firms pre-qualified to receive invitations to tender will be announced later this year.

§ Mr. Dhanda
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps the Strategic Rail Authority plans to take regarding Virgin Trains' recent announcement on changes to the timetable in services in Gloucester; and whether this is in breach of the passenger service requirements. [103345]

§ Mr. Jamieson
The increased timetable which Virgin Cross Country introduced in October 2002 has proved to be unworkable in various respects. The Strategic Rail Authority has agreed timetable changes, including changes affecting Gloucester, and is granting the necessary derogations from the passenger service requirements. The aim is to improve the performance and reliability of services overall. At Gloucester the withdrawal of Virgin Cross Country services (save for one morning and one evening peak service to Birmingham) will be offset by a new, more reliable pattern of services operated variously by Central Trains, Wessex Trains and Wales and Borders.