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Future of Rail — [Sir Charles Walker in the Chair]
26 April 2022
Lead MP
Rachael Maskell
York Central
Lab Co-op
Responding Minister
Wendy Morton
Tags
EconomyTaxationEmploymentTransportForeign Affairs
Word Count: 13828
Other Contributors: 18
At a Glance
Rachael Maskell raised concerns about future of rail — [sir charles walker in the chair] in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
Maskell calls for investment in York's rail cluster to level up the local economy and ensure job security and good wages. She urges the Government to anchor Great British Railways in York, invest in the sector's R&D, and prioritise a modal shift from road to rail for freight.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Rachael Maskell is concerned about the challenges facing rail post-pandemic, including restoring and advancing patronage, improving timetabling, intermodal connectivity, and addressing issues in freight. She highlights York's role as a railway hub with over 100 rail companies providing over 5,500 jobs locally and 9,500 jobs regionally, contributing £42 billion to the northern economy. The city is home to advanced research institutes and facilities that set global standards in safety and robotics.
Andrew Jones
Con
Hindi
Andrew Jones supported the case for York to host Great British Railways headquarters, citing pre-pandemic data showing 1.8 billion passenger journeys per year and over 140,000 services per week. He highlighted York's existing rail operating centre as the largest in the UK and its strong railway heritage. Jones also mentioned the enterprise zone within Network Rail ownership in York, which offers a value solution for levelling up communities. It would be helpful to remind this debate of what has happened in our railways over the past few years. After decades of decline, we reached the point where we had only 760 million passenger journeys per year. The situation transformed, under privatisation, to 1.8 billion passenger journeys a year.
Welsh rail faces challenges such as underfunding, poor service experience, inadequate stations, infrequent services. She supports public ownership of rail, devolution of rail in Wales, and a fair funding settlement for rail infrastructure improvements.
Bill Esterson
Lab
Sefton Central
Praises her hon. Friend's speech and raises concerns about expanding freight through Liverpool port affecting air quality; urges reconsideration on building road and advocates for rail as a viable option.
Chris Loder
Con
Scarborough and Whitby
He congratulated the hon. Member for York Central on securing the debate and questioned whether TfL's finances would be better if unions did not strike as often. I am concerned about the allocation of funds to Transport for London, which has received considerable amounts while my constituency's Heart of Wessex line suffers from a three-hourly train service frequency. I support the Government's £14 billion investment during the pandemic but emphasise the need for fundamental changes in timetable flexibility and better rural connections.
Gavin Newlands
SNP
Paisley and Renfrewshire North
Mr. Newlands highlighted the success of ScotRail's return to public control, praising spring fare deals which exceeded Department for Transport plans. He criticised the Williams review for ruling out real public ownership and suggested full devolution of Network Rail in Scotland would avoid a missed opportunity for integration. He noted that despite high track access charges paid by ScotRail, it is still necessary for the Scottish Government to invest an additional £630 million annually towards decarbonisation targets set for 2035.
Graham Stringer
Lab
Blackley and Middleton South
The railways are slower than in the 1880s due to lack of investment, privatisation leading to under-selling and inefficiency, and Railtrack's property focus. He calls for integrated rail system investment, including platforms at Piccadilly station in Manchester, HS2 expansion to Scotland, and making the Manchester Exchange Station site home for GBR.
Greg Knight
Con
South Northamptonshire
Congratulates the hon. Lady on securing this excellent debate and agrees that there is an overwhelming case to make York the headquarters of Great British Railways.
Imran Hussain
Lab
Bradford East
Supports his hon. Friend's speech and emphasizes the need for levelling-up rhetoric by taking action in the north, stressing economic benefits of electrification.
Julian Sturdy
Con
Yorkshire and the Humber
Sturdy supports York as the site for Great British Railways, highlighting existing Network Rail facilities, strong connectivity, skilled workforce, leading status in training and innovation, and its position at the heart of the UK rail network.
Justin Madders
Lab
Ellesmere Port and Bromborough
I question why it is taking longer to restore hourly direct services from Chester to London, compared to other areas. I seek a clear commitment that the new 10-year franchise will restore these services pre-pandemic levels and raise concerns about the unaffordability of rail travel in comparison with international routes.
Karl Turner
Lab
Kingston upon Hull East
Congratulates his hon. Friend on securing the debate, highlights sections of transport infrastructure in the north that are not up to job such as the Hull to Selby route and calls for electrification.
Kevin Hollinrake
Con
Thirsk and Malton
The hon. Member supported York's bid for the Great British Rail headquarters, citing its economic benefits through productivity enhancement and supply chain creation. He stressed the importance of placing jobs in areas with existing expertise and infrastructure, highlighting York's rail industry workforce and heritage.
Mohammad Yasin
Lab
Bedford
Yasin criticises East West Rail for poor communication with constituents regarding home and land risks due to a rail project, highlighting mental health impacts and urging immediate clarity on whether the project will proceed.
Navendu Mishra
Lab
Stockport
The hon. Member highlighted the insufficient rail capacity in Stockport and called for investment to reverse decades of under-investment. He emphasised the importance of skilled jobs and unionised employment in the rail industry, praising Mayor Andy Burnham's efforts with the Bee Network. Mishra also mentioned issues at local train stations including tactile safety tiles and infrastructure problems like flooding platforms and broken lifts.
Rachel Hopkins
Lab
Luton South and South Bedfordshire
The speaker is concerned about the increase in rail fares and its impact on commuters, noting that average fares have risen by 48.9% more than in 2010. She highlighted issues at Luton station, such as accessibility problems due to lack of lifts and inadequate renovations. The speaker also called for additional capital funding for redevelopment of town train stations like Luton.
Rupa Huq
Lab
Ealing Central and Acton
She discussed the importance of railways in Ealing and Acton, arguing that long-term funding is needed for TfL to improve transport infrastructure. She highlighted issues such as rising fares, full trains, and the need for projects like the west London orbital line. I am grateful for what the Minister is saying about the GB focus and the new thing coming. Will she look at the European examples that I mentioned? As a member of the Select Committee on Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, I know that tourism is a big thing in this country. It is worrying that people land in London and cannot get to Manchester without its costing a three-figure sum.
Tan Dhesi
Lab
Slough
Mr Tan Dhesi highlighted the increase in rail fares since 2010, which have risen by 49%, while wages have only increased by 23%. He criticised the 'Great British Rail Sale' for offering discounts on a mere 1% of all journeys and pointed out that there are still 19,000 pre-pandemic services yet to return. Mr Dhesi also raised concerns about the lack of detail in Government plans regarding rail electrification and accessibility.
Yasmin Qureshi
Lab
Bolton South and Walkden
The MP expressed concerns over the privatisation of rail services, stating that it has led to fragmentation and fare increases. She also mentioned issues such as overcrowded trains, unreliable services, and accessibility problems at stations. The speaker highlighted examples where elderly passengers faced difficulties due to non-functional lifts.
Government Response
Wendy Morton
Government Response
It is a privilege to respond to this debate under the chairmanship, highlighting the importance of rail heritage and the Government's commitment to securing it. The minister acknowledged the need for change in the rail industry following multiple franchise failures, falling passenger satisfaction, a timetable collapse, spiralling costs, and frequent delays. She endorsed the Williams-Shapps plan for rail aimed at delivering punctual and reliable services, flexible ticketing revolution, and modernising the network. Central to this vision is Great British Railways (GBR), which will unify leadership across the rail network, focusing on value and customer satisfaction while encouraging system integration. The minister emphasised the success of privatisation with passenger numbers doubling in 25 years before the pandemic, highlighting billions of private investment into modern trains and station upgrades. She also addressed GBR HQ applications from York and other locations, noting 42 bids received, including six mentioned by Gavin Newlands. The Government is committed to workforce reform for sustainability, efficiency, and flexibility while pushing forward with RNEP plans in due course.
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About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.