Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

South Western Railway

Thursday 3 February 2022 · 5 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 4 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial officials and the Minister are in regular dialogue with South Western Railway regarding service levels.
  • The Prime Minister announced the return of services in Dorset and across the west country on 19 February.
  • The Minister assured the House that the current temporary rail timetable is temporary and is providing necessary services during staff absences.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Fleur Anderson Lab Putney
Transport
Context

Residents of Putney have experienced poor rail services from South Western Railway, including overcrowding, delays and cancellations for years. The Prime Minister recently stated that the 'chaos omicron' timetable would end on 19 February.

Question

I am glad the Minister is holding meetings with South Western Railway, as Putney residents have faced dreadful service from SWR for years, with overcrowding, delays and the cancellation of trains. Currently, they are on a temporary 'chaos omicron' timetable. The Prime Minister announced in Prime Minister's Question Time that that timetable would end on 19 February, but that seems to be news to SWR. Did he inadvertently mislead the House?

Answer from Wendy Morton

As I explained to the hon. Lady, my officials and I are in regular dialogue with SWR, working hard on the issue of services, because we absolutely understand that it is what matters to passengers right across the country. Services will be restored as soon as possible.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not confirm if Prime Minister inadvertently misled House or provide a timeframe for correcting issues with SWR timetable

How: Working Hard On The Issue, Restored As Soon As Possible

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Q2 Fleur Anderson Lab Putney
Transport
Context

An entire region of the United Kingdom, including Somerset, Dorset, Wiltshire and Devon, had its direct service to London completely severed and slashed in half without notice from MPs.

Question

I very much welcome the news from the Prime Minister yesterday that services in Dorset and across the west country will be returned on 19 February. Will the Minister share with the House how we got to the place where an entire region of the United Kingdom—Somerset, Dorset, Wiltshire and Devon—had its direct service to London completely severed and slashed in half, without MPs even being told about it?

Answer from Wendy Morton

I assure my hon. Friend that the Department continues to work closely with rail operators, as we work through mitigating the impact of staff absences on rail services. I assure him that the current temporary rail timetable is exactly that—temporary—but it is providing passengers, especially the country's key workers, with certainty, so that they can plan as much as possible, with the confidence that we want.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specifics on how region's direct services got reduced without notice to MPs

How: Working Closely With Rail Operators, Temporary Timetable

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Q3 Chris Loder
Transport
Context

Rail commuters in towns and suburbs were asked to stay home at the start of the pandemic, but now face fare increases on reduced services.

Question

I am sure that the whole House will join me in wishing my hon. Friend the Member for Slough (Mr Dhesi) a speedy recovery from covid. Rail commuters in towns and suburbs across the land did their patriotic duty: they stayed home when asked by the Government at the start of the pandemic. They were told after that that if they did not go back to work, they were shirkers. Then, before Christmas, the Government asked them to stay home again. Now, on their return, they find that fares, including on South Western Railway, have risen by nearly 4%, on a reduced service. Do this Government take rail commuters for fools?

Answer from Wendy Morton

We absolutely do take passengers—[Laughter.] We absolutely do take passengers very, very seriously. I assure the hon. Gentleman of that, and I am not taking any nonsense such as the language he is using, not given the amount of support that this Government have shown to the rail industry throughout the omicron situation and the covid-19 pandemic more broadly.

Not addressed: Did not address whether government takes commuters seriously or provide details on fare increases

How: Not Taking Any Nonsense, Amount Of Support Shown

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Q4 Mike Kane Lab Wythenshawe and Sale East
Transport
Context

Southern has suspended direct trains on the Brighton line into Victoria, forcing constituents to change twice and adding about a third to their commuting times.

Question

Clearly taking its lead from South Western Railway, Southern has suspended all direct trains on the Brighton line into Victoria, meaning that my constituents along the south way have to change twice, which they calculate is adding about a third to their commuting times. That is completely unacceptable. Given the special funding arrangements between the Department for Transport and Govia Thameslink Railway, what compensation can be given to my constituents or, better still, what pressure can the Minister bring to bear on that company to provide a decent service again, at last?

Answer from Wendy Morton

I share my hon. Friend's frustration and, as I said in response to earlier questions, we have been supporting the industry heavily throughout covid-19. During the omicron part of the pandemic, the industry has been handling staff absences, but this is absolutely about getting those services back up and running as soon as possible.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not specify compensation or action for constituents facing longer commutes

How: Supporting The Industry Heavily, Getting Services Back Up

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Q5 Tim Loughton Con
Transport
Context

Residents of Putney face overcrowding, delays and cancellations from South Western Railway. The Prime Minister recently stated that the 'chaos omicron' timetable would end on 19 February.

Question

What recent discussions he has had with representatives of South Western Railway on the adequacy of its service levels.

Answer from Wendy Morton

Along with Department officials, I am in regular dialogue with South Western Railway about its service levels. I have also recently met all managing directors of the train operating companies, including the managing director of South Western Railway, to discuss service provision, among other key industry topics.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific details on recent discussions or adequacy of services

How: Regular Dialogue With Swr, Service Provision Discussed

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