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Railway Services: South-West
14 January 2025
Lead MP
Martin Wrigley
Newton Abbot
LD
Responding Minister
Simon Lightwood
Tags
Transport
Word Count: 8928
Other Contributors: 12
At a Glance
Martin Wrigley raised concerns about railway services: south-west in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
I ask the Minister to reassure Network Rail that funding will be secured for the critical fifth phase of the Dawlish rail resilience programme. I also urge the Government to ensure HS2 developments do not further disrupt services in the south-west.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
The south-west relies heavily on its mainline railway as an economic lifeline. The 2014 Dawlish storm incident caused a £35 million repair cost and an estimated £1.2 billion loss to the local economy, highlighting the critical nature of rail services in the region. Since then, while improvements have been made, including a new sea wall at Dawlish and rebuilt stations, the final phase of resilience work remains underfunded and at risk.
Adam Dance
LD
Yeovil
My hon. Friend urges the government to improve accessibility for disabled railway passengers and holds Great Western Railway accountable for proper support.
St Ives
He expressed concern that people in Penzance, west Cornwall, and the Isles of Scilly will experience all the pain but none of the gain with this multi-billion pound HS2 project. He highlighted the significant impact on journey times from Exeter to Penzance.
Anna Sabine
LD
Frome and East Somerset
My hon. Friend agrees with the need for a sufficient consultation on the implications of Old Oak Common station development for tourism and business in the south-west.
Carla Denyer
Green
Bristol Central
Constituents frequently contact about poor experiences with trains, including unreliability, cancellations and delays. Unreliable services are especially frustrating for disabled constituents and those with long-term health conditions.
Danny Kruger
Con
East Wiltshire
The hon. Gentleman points out a reduction in inter-city express trains serving Wiltshire, agreeing that more services are needed to support commuters and constituents.
Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe
My hon. Friend agrees that Wales has been overlooked regarding funding, and he draws attention to the economic impact of closures on the Severn tunnel between south-west England and Wales.
West Dorset
Questions the decision to renationalize South Western Railway a year before GB Rail's setup, expressing concerns about potential stagnation in necessary upgrades.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
The hon. Gentleman highlights the importance of accessibility in railway improvements, noting that nearly two-thirds of London’s tube stations have no access for disabled people.
Noah Law
Lab
St Austell and Newquay
Connectivity is crucial for the economy and communities in Cornwall. The Mid Cornwall metro will improve rail links but falls short of being transformational. Urges exploration of feasibility on magnificent branch lines for clarity on clean transport plans.
Paul Kohler
LD
Wimbledon
Emphasises the need for urgent improvement of the railway network in the south-west due to high ticket prices and unreliable services. Discusses concerns about Old Oak Common works causing six years of disruption without benefits for those west of Swindon.
Tiverton and Minehead
She provided background on her constituency's rail connections, emphasising the inadequacy of railway services across the south-west with poor punctuality rates for CrossCountry trains at 46.4% and Great Western Railway service at 60.2%, both significantly below national averages.
Rebecca Smith
Con
South West Devon
Smith acknowledged the importance of the railway workforce while raising concerns about recent funding decisions and the impact on rail services in the south-west, including the phase-out of HS2 funds for regional projects.
Government Response
Simon Lightwood
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport
Government Response
The Minister thanked all hon. Members for their contributions and highlighted the Government's commitment to fixing Britain’s railway, with a focus on improving services for passengers and delivering better value for money. He mentioned that £165 million has been invested in the south-west resilience programme at Dawlish, ensuring better journey reliability during severe weather conditions. The Minister also addressed capacity issues around Devon and the impact of Old Oak Common on rail services to the south-west.
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Assessment & feedback
Summary accuracy
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.