Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Rail Services: South-east London

Thursday 3 February 2022 · 2 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Matthew Pennycook asked the Minister about plans to improve rail services for passengers in south-east London.
  • The Minister responded that department officials are collaborating with rail operators to ensure reliable and punctual services.
  • The Minister acknowledged concerns about overcrowding due to reduced timetables and easing restrictions, assuring continued work with rail operators to mitigate impacts.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Matthew Pennycook Lab Greenwich and Woolwich
Transport
Context

The question arises from ongoing challenges faced by rail passengers in south-east London, particularly with Southeastern and Govia Thameslink Railway. Recent performance issues have caused reduced timetables and overcrowding on trains, buses, and tubes.

Question

What plans does he have to help improve services for rail passengers in south-east London?

Answer from Wendy Morton

Department officials are working closely with operators in south-east London, including SE Trains —Southeastern—and Govia Thameslink Railway, to ensure that a reliable and punctual service is delivered as passengers return to work. Performance on both SET and GTR has been at a good level throughout the pandemic, with some recent challenges on GTR, owing to a high level of driver absence, leading to a temporarily revised timetable.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask for plans or initiatives was not addressed directly; instead, the response focused on current efforts and past performance.

How: Under Review, Working Closely With Operators

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Q2 Matthew Pennycook Lab Greenwich and Woolwich
Transport
Context

Southeastern and Thameslink services have been running on a reduced timetable, causing overcrowding due to increased commuter numbers. The question seeks immediate action regarding service restoration.

Question

The Minister will be aware that both Southeastern and Thameslink services in south-east London are running on a reduced timetable. With the restrictions having eased and growing numbers of my constituents once again needing to commute, that cut in services is beginning to cause overcrowding on not only trains, but local bus and tube services, as well as incentivising more people to jump into their cars. Can I get a commitment from the Minister today that those withdrawn services will be fully reinstated as soon as possible?

Answer from Wendy Morton

I understand the concerns of colleagues across the House when it comes to trains and passengers. I assure the hon. Gentleman, as I have assured other colleagues this morning, that we continue to work closely with rail operators as they mitigate the impact of staff absences on rail services. It is important that we work together to get people back to work.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask for a commitment was not addressed; instead, general assurances were given without concrete timelines or actions.

How: Working Closely With Operators, Assuring Colleagues

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