Commons Sense

House of Commons · Adjournment Debate

Rail Service Reductions

22 October 2021 · 1 other contributor

Opened by Sarah Olney Lib Dem Richmond Park

Transport

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Sarah Olney raised concerns about rail service reductions in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.

Key points

  • South Western Railway is proposing permanent service reductions of up to 50% at some stations.
  • The consultation period for the service reductions occurred during the summer holiday, excluding commuters from voicing their concerns.
  • The proposed cuts will reduce off-peak services by half at busy suburban stations like St Margarets and Whitton, leading to potential overcrowding during peak times.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Sarah Olney Lib Dem Richmond Park

Thank you very much, Madam Deputy Speaker. I start by laying out the economic and environmental case for incentivising and supporting rail travel. The dramatic impact of the pandemic on passenger numbers has led to emergency and temporary timetables being implemented for over 18 months. However, South Western Railway (SWR) is now proposing permanent service reductions by up to 50% at some stations. This decision is not only flawed in timing but also in rationale as it relies heavily on increased punctuality during the pandemic period when fewer services mean more punctual services naturally. The consultation was run over the summer holiday period and excluded commuters, who have not had a chance to voice their concerns before decisions were made. SWR has promised improvements in punctuality without needing service reductions previously but is now proposing drastic cuts. These cuts will impact busy suburban stations with no tube alternatives and result in unacceptable direct service reductions for residents of St Margarets and Whitton by half during off-peak hours, leading to overcrowding concerns at peak times. The local economy cannot afford these cuts, as well as the environmental impacts of pushing people into their cars.

Other contributors (1)
  • Munira Wilson Lib Dem Twickenham

    I thank my hon. Friend for her detailed speech on the South Western Railway consultation. The proposed cuts are fundamentally flawed in timing, rationale, and how the consultation was conducted. They will impact busy suburban stations with no tube alternatives and result in unacceptable direct service reductions for residents of St Margarets and Whitton by half during off-peak hours. This is financially illiterate as it will reduce revenue while maintaining fixed costs. I ask the Minister to confirm what level of savings the Department for Transport and Treasury hope to gain from these cuts.

Government Response

Chris Heaton-Harris

I thank Sarah Olney MP and Munira Wilson MP for their contributions. The railways had one of its busiest months in February 2020, followed by a dramatic drop due to the pandemic. Keith Williams’s work resulted in the 'Great British Railways: Williams-Shapps plan for rail' White Paper this May, which received cross-party support. SWR and Network Rail have started planning for a baseline timetable balancing performance, attractiveness, and efficiency. The proposed changes will deliver 89% of pre-covid levels of service and 93% of capacity against forecast 76% of pre-covid passenger footfall returning by December 2022. SWR tells me that the service levels leave enough flexibility for additional services as demand returns, and I am keen to see this level of flexibility articulated and demonstrated in some way. I will ensure SWR and Network Rail continue to work with customers, communities, and stakeholders and respond flexibly to demand.

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