§ Linda PerhamTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to improve the on-time performance of rail companies. [127842]
§ Mr. McNultyOur top priority is to see significant improvement in rail punctuality and reliability. The rail industry, under the leadership of the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA), is working increasingly closely together to deliver this. The SRA has issued a template performance action plan to all train operators. The plan requires train operators to identify the main causes of delay, and to produce action plans to address them.
§ Mrs. Curtis-ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how much ridership has changed on average over the last two years for rail travel in Merseyside; [128588]
(2) what percentage of trains in Merseyside ran no more than five minutes late in the last year for which figures are available. [128590]
279W
§ Mr. McNultyThe number of passenger kilometres travelled on Arriva Trains Merseyside services rose from 255 million in 2001–02 to 275 million in 2002–03 and the number of passenger journeys rose from 23.8 million to 24.9 million in the same period.
For the year to 31 March 2003, 91.5 per cent. of Arriva Trains Merseyside services arrived within five minutes of their scheduled arrival time.
The Strategic Rail Authority publishes statistics for each train operating company in its Annual Report, and in the quarterly National Rail Trends and six-monthly "On Track" publications, each of which is available through the Libraries of the House.
§ Linda PerhamTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received regarding Silverlink's advice to rail passengers to go on holiday during a period of maintenance. [128275]
§ Mr. McNultyMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has received no representations regarding Silverlink's advice to rail passengers to go on holiday during a period of maintenance.