| Archived Save the Train forum articles - 2005 to 2010. See below
Parliamentary Written Questions - 281/747 Written by Lee on Monday, 3rd July 2006 There are some VERY interesting questions today for the Secretary of State for Transport (link below.) http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmordbk1/60703w01.htm There are several questions that will be of interest to Melksham passengers , but one in particular stands out. 630 Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he has taken to safeguard transport corridors through land controlled by the British Railways Board. Re: Parliamentary Written Questions - 281/771 Written by Lee on Wednesday, 5th July 2006 From a general point of view , two others on the above question list also caught my eye : Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, where the unused regional Eurostar trains are stored; and what the cost to public funds has been of the unused trains. Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, who received the revenue from the sale to Canada of Nightstar rolling stock; and if he will make a statement. Here is a link on Regional Eurostar. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regional_Eurostar Here are a couple of links on VIA Rail and Canadian railways. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VIA_Rail http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20060704.wderaill0704/BNStory/National/home Here is another Eurostar - related link. http://christianwolmar.co.uk/articles/rail/535.shtml Re: Parliamentary Written Questions - 281/772 Written by admin (Graham Ellis) on Wednesday, 5th July 2006 I noticed: "Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what representations he has received from passenger train operating companies regarding fare increases on recently awarded franchises." Probably relates to some of the stories I've been seeing about St. Albans to London (oh - that's the other one that First won at the same time as the Great Western) where fares have been hiked WITH DfT APPROVAL. [i]Note ... the bus fare from Devizes to the Bowerhill area of Melksham, one of the main employment areas of the town, rose recently by - I am told - around 150%. Re: Parliamentary Written Questions - 281/819 Written by Lee on Monday, 10th July 2006 Here are some of the answers. http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmhansrd/cm060704/text/60704w1413.htm Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he has taken to safeguard transport corridors through land controlled by the British Railways Board. [82340] Derek Twigg: Details of the Department for Transport's guidance to BRB (Residuary) Ltd. on the disposal of property can be seen on the company's website at http://www.brb.gov.uk/land_disposal. Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the residual value of the property held by the British Railways Board. [82341] Derek Twigg: Details of the value of property held by BRB (Residuary) Ltd. is contained in the annual report of the company which can be seen on the BRB (R) website at http://www.brb.gov.uk/annual_report/annual-report-2005. http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmhansrd/cm060706/text/60706w1492.htm#column_1268W Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received from passenger train operating companies regarding fare increases on recently awarded franchises. [82502] Derek Twigg: The Department for Transport has received no representations from train operating companies regarding fares increases on recently awarded franchises. Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether additional premium payments made to the Government by rail franchises under agreements reached since 2005 will be (a) returned to the Consolidated Fund and (b) made available to his Department for spending on transport. [82318] Derek Twigg: All premium payments received from rail franchises are appropriated in aid by the Department and the funds are made available for spending on transport. Re: Parliamentary Written Questions - 281/823 Written by admin (Graham Ellis) on Tuesday, 11th July 2006 [quote author=Lee link=topic=281.msg819#msg819 date=1152533374] Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether additional premium payments made to the Government by rail franchises under agreements reached since 2005 will be (a) returned to the Consolidated Fund and (b) made available to his Department for spending on transport. [82318] Derek Twigg: All premium payments received from rail franchises are appropriated in aid by the Department and the funds are made available for spending on transport. [/quote] I note "transport" rather than "rail". So the money paid by First to buy the rights to operate the train services in the South West is getting back as grants and subsidys for bus services in the region such as the Bristol Showcase routes that have just been awarded 42 million pounds. (links). I really don't mind a successful and profitable public transport service helping to provide seed money for another public transport service that needs investment to get it going, and indeed to provide an element of ongoing subsidy to feeder services that help in the whole integrated system, or services that provide vital public transport opportunities but which are unprofitable due to their geography / logistics. Re: Parliamentary Written Questions - 281/828 Written by Lee on Tuesday, 11th July 2006 Here are some more answers. http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmhansrd/cm060710/text/60710w1518.htm#06071017000025 Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the role of the Office of Rail Regulation is in the determination of fare levels. [82501] Derek Twigg: The Office of Rail Regulation has no role in setting fare levels. Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether it is his policy that cheap day return rail fares should apply all day. [82504] Derek Twigg: Cheap day returns have never been valid all day, but only after the morning peak. As these tickets are unregulated, the validity of these tickets is determined by train operators. Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate his Department has made of the amount by which fares would need to rise to reduce overcrowding by 10 per cent. on the 10 most overcrowded rail routes. [82506] Derek Twigg: Although we have examined, and continue to monitor, the relationship between fares and demand, the Department has not conducted the specific research to answer this question. Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many train services (a) were scheduled to run and (b) ran in each of the last 12 months, broken down by region. [82561] Derek Twigg: This data is not held in full in the format requested. Re: Parliamentary Written Questions - 281/880 Written by Lee on Thursday, 13th July 2006 Some more interesting questions today (link below.) http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmordbk1/60713w01.htm Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the average age is of buses in service in each region. Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the average age is of the rail rolling stock operated by each train operating company. Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, which routes (a) are and (b) are expected by 2014 to be carrying trains which are loaded with passengers to a level that is in excess of capacity. Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the potential total saving from the Government's decision to specify a reduction in the number of services on some lines and to some stations in the First Great Western franchise area as part of the franchise renewal process. Re: Parliamentary Written Questions - 281/940 Written by Lee on Thursday, 20th July 2006 Here are some more answers (links below.) http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmhansrd/cm060719/text/60719w1817.htm Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport where the unused regional Eurostar trains are stored; and what the cost to public funds has been of the unused trains. Derek Twigg: The regional Eurostars are not in store. Five are in the course of modification and the other two are being used for testing of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link. http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmhansrd/cm060719/text/60719w1817.htm#column_433W Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which stations will have fewer stopping services (a) under new franchise agreements completed by his Department since it took over responsibility for franchising from the Strategic Rail Authority and (b) under the specifications for new franchise agreements which are currently subject to a tendering process. Derek Twigg: The Department for Transport completed franchise agreements for the Great Western, Thameslink/Great Northern and Integrated Kent franchises in December 2005. Present service levels are contained in the National Rail timetable published by Network Rail. Service levels to be provided under the Greater Western franchise with effect from December 2006 are set out in the consultation timetable published by First Great Western in January 2006, as amended by the operator in announcements on 3 April and 15 June 2006. No changes to Thameslink/Great Northern services are proposed. Future changes to services in the Integrated Kent franchise are set out in briefing documents published on the Department's website. The South Western Franchise tenders have been received. The detailed specification for this is available on the Department's web site. The specification for the new Cross Country, West Midlands and East Midlands franchises is still being prepared and will not be finalised until October 2006. Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the average age is of the rail rolling stock operated by each train operating company. Derek Twigg: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 24 January 2006, Official Report, columns 1990-2W to the hon. Member for Rochdale (Paul Rowen). The average age has not changed materially since this date. Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the potential total saving from the Government Re: Parliamentary Written Questions - 281/945 Written by admin (Graham Ellis) on Thursday, 20th July 2006 [quote author=Lee link=topic=281.msg940#msg940 date=1153386703] Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the potential total saving from the Government Re: Parliamentary Written Questions - 281/956 Written by Lee on Friday, 21st July 2006 The answer to the following question can be found in the "Buses" section of the link below. http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmhansrd/cm060720/text/60720w1859.htm#column_675W Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the average age is of buses in service in each region. The average age of buses in service in the South West region is 9 years old. By the way , if you have ever wanted to know the answer to the following question..... Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many public appointments are within his patronage; what (a) salary and (b) other emoluments are attached to each; and what the comparable figures were in (i) 1976, (ii) 1986 and (iii) 1996. .....then you can find in the "Public Appointments" section of the link below. http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmhansrd/cm060720/text/60720w1860.htm#column_682W Re: Parliamentary Written Questions - 281/1009 Written by Lee on Tuesday, 25th July 2006 Here are some highlights from todays Answers list (links below.) http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmhansrd/cm060724/text/60724w1872.htm#column_737W Mr. Brazier: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what studies he has undertaken on the likely impact of Crossrail on the Heathrow Express. Derek Twigg [holding answer 18 July 2006]: The report of the Crossrail Timetable Working Group, published on 22 June 2006, considers the impact of Crossrail services on existing rail services and future services allowing for growth, including Heathrow Express. A copy of the report can be found on my Department Re: Parliamentary Written Questions - 281/1011 Written by Lee on Tuesday, 25th July 2006 Here is a link to today's rail - related Parliamentary Written Questions. http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmordbk1/60725w01.htm Patrick Hall (Bedford):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what guidance he has issued to train operating companies regarding their communication with hon. Members. Patrick Hall (Bedford):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will take steps to ensure that the Managing Director of First Capital Connect arranges to meet the hon. Member for Bedford in order to discuss matters relating to the hon. Member's constituents. Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with (a) Network Rail and (b) train operators on the introduction of the ban on smoking in railway stations in 2007. link to index of articles |
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Save the Train was the campaign to bring an approriate train service back to and through Melksham. Most big contributors are still around writing at the Coffee shop forum where new members are very welcome. The train has been saved - sort of - we have stepped back up from an unusable service to a poorish one but it's doing very well. We did that through setting up the TransWilts Community Rail Partnership. That fulfilled its early objectives; it has been taken over by local and regional government types who are now doing medium and long term work. The team from this forun can also be found at the Melksham Rail User Group (which was the Melksham Rail Development Group at the time these articles were written and we had no users. We mustn't loose sight, though, that the train service remains poor and needs our community support in marketing and campaigning to keep it going in a positive direction ... and all the more so when we're expecting to find a different normallity once we get out of the Coronavirus Pandemic and head for zero carbon via the climate crisis. Yes, it's saved ... it's now a key community facility ... the need for enhancement and the strong and near-universal local support remain, and the rail industry and goverment remain slow to move and provide the enhancements even to level us up with other towns. Please support the Melksham Rail User Group - now very much in partnership rather than protest with the rail industry and local government, including GWR, TransWilts and unitary and town councils. And please use the trains and buses, and cycle and walk when you can. -- Graham Ellis, (webmaster), February 2021 | |||
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