Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Passenger Rail Services

Thursday 8 January 2026 · 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 5 Partly answered 0 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Claire Young raised concerns about maintaining half-hourly rail services on the Severn Beach line to support job creation and access to education.
  • Cameron Thomas inquired about the Railways Bill creating an independent passenger watchdog to ensure minimum consumer standards and improve travel conditions.
  • Dave Robertson asked about the benefits of bringing the Lichfield to Birmingham line into public ownership under Great British Railways to speed up the Midlands Rail Hub project.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Claire Young Lib Dem Thornbury and Yate
Transport
Context

The west of England growth strategy identified the Severn estuary growth zone as having potential to create more than 15,000 jobs. Half-hourly rail services on the Severn Beach line and Yate station are crucial for job creation and college access.

Question

I am concerned about the half-hourly rail services on the Severn Beach line being maintained to support the creation of 15,000 jobs in the Severn estuary growth zone. Additionally, half-hourly trains serving Yate support both jobs and access to college, enabling hourly services at the new Charfield station when it opens. Will the Minister give an early commitment to extending those half-hourly rail services to support growth and remove uncertainty for students before the exam season?

Answer from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Keir Mather)

I reassure her that there are no plans to reduce the half-hourly service between Bristol and Gloucester, and I acknowledge the point she raises about Yate station, where performance has recently fallen behind Great Western Railway performance as a whole. The Rail Minister is meeting with managing directors of all train operators to address any instances of poor performance so that we can level up the passenger experience, create economic opportunities, and ensure young people in her constituency can access economic opportunities.

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Q2 Cameron Thomas Ind Tewkesbury
Transport
Context

The member frequently experiences crowded and unreliable train services on Great Western Railway between Paddington and Gloucestershire, leading to hours of standing in corridors or aisles when able to board trains at all.

Question

I still regularly have to stand in a corridor or aisle for hours on end if I am able to board the GWR service at all from Paddington to Gloucestershire. Can the Minister tell me when we can expect things to get better?

Answer from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Keir Mather)

Nobody should have to face conditions such as described. The Railways Bill will create an independent passenger watchdog that will ensure minimum consumer standards for passengers on the railway, ensuring their travel is affordable, reliable, and pleasant.

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Q3 Dave Robertson Lab Lichfield
Transport
Context

The midlands rail hub project aims to double the number of trains from Lichfield city to Birmingham, including a later evening service. This project was stalled under the previous government and is now being pressed ahead.

Question

People in my constituency are looking forward to seeing the number of trains from Lichfield city to Birmingham double due to the midlands rail hub project. Can the Minister confirm that bringing the line back into public ownership under Great British Railways will help us drive these changes faster?

Answer from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Keir Mather)

My hon. Friend is right to champion his constituents’ rights to frequent and reliable transport. Great British Railways will simplify journeys, reduce delays, and improve timetables to deliver better value for passengers and taxpayers.

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Q4 Jerome Mayhew Con Broadland and Fakenham
Transport
Context

Rumors suggest the government may be reconsidering Northern Powerhouse Rail due to perceived instability in northern mayoralties.

Question

Is this going to be another U-turn from the Government, or can the Minister take this opportunity to put those rumours to rest by saying from the Dispatch Box that the scope, funding and timeframe for Northern Powerhouse Rail are not going to be changed?

Answer from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Keir Mather)

This Government are committed to levelling up our railway across the United Kingdom, including in the north of England. We will put passenger experience and affordable fares at the very heart of what Great British Railways seeks to do.

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Q5 Olly Glover Lib Dem Didcot and Wantage
Transport
Context

The government has decided to embrace the Lib Dem campaign for a rail fares freeze, but passengers have experienced above-inflation fare increases for two decades prior.

Question

Does the Secretary of State support the idea of a 21st-century railway passenger charter that would guarantee better passenger experience our passengers deserve?

Answer from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Keir Mather)

Accessibility will sit at the heart of Great British Railways. There will be an accessibility duty within the Railways Bill, ensuring that accessibility is always considered. On fares, the rail fare freeze and the Railways Bill will save passengers £600 million in 2026-27.

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