HC Deb 04 March 2004 vol 418 cc1151-2W
Richard Ottaway

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps are being taken to relieve overcrowding on services operated by(a) South Central and (b) Thameslink. [157863]

Mr. McNulty

Under the Strategic Rail Authority's new franchise agreement with Go Via, capacity will be increased when a new fleet of trains is provided on South Central services from 2005. The two-year extension of the Thameslink franchise, effective from 1 April 2004, incorporates an option to provide additional capacity and services primarily on the Wimbledon loop where the route is most constrained. This proposal is subject to securing additional rolling stock and meeting value for money and affordability considerations.

Mr. Godsiff

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how his Department defines overcrowding in respect of rail travel. [158062]

Mr. McNulty

There is no definition for crowding on the railways. However, all rail operators are required to provide a frequency of service and adequate capacity to prevent excessive crowding and to have in place strategies for dealing with regular systematic crowding when it occurs.

Mr. Truswell

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many railway carriages which could be returned to passenger use are in storage; where they are being stored; and what instruction he has given to the Strategic Railway Authority regarding the disposal of railway carriages which have the potential for re-use. [156171]

Mr. McNulty

Carriages capable of reuse are principally those being replaced by new trains on cross country and the west coast main line. Primary responsibility for deciding their future use, if any, lies with their owners and operators. However, the Strategic Rail Authority's Rolling Stock Strategy encourages the cascading of surplus carriages to other uses and there have already been cases where this has happened. The number in storage at any one time fluctuates as vehicles are progressively withdrawn from service and others are redeployed or scrapped.

Norman Baker

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to make a statement on proposals for a crossing of the railway line at Beddingham on the A27. [158882]

Mr. McNulty

I announced the decision on the final proposals for the Southerham to Beddington stretch of the A27 yesterday. The hon. Gentleman and other interested parties were informed in the usual manner.

Simon Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will allow regional passenger transport authorities to bid to run franchises. [158763]

Mr. McNulty

Passenger Transport Authorities as local authorities are precluded from being franchisees by Section 25 of the Railways Act 1993. Only where a rail network has been designated as exempt from franchising, as with the Merseyrail network, can a Passenger Transport Authority be considered to run services on that network. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State said in his statement to the House on 19 January that the current rail review would consider the scope for devolving more decision-making to the Passenger Transport Executives.