| Archived Save the Train forum articles - 2005 to 2010. See below
More Upcoming PWQ's - 671/2022 Written by Lee on Wednesday, 22nd November 2006 Many upcoming PWQ's are of interest. Here are todays (link below.) http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200607/cmordbk1/61122w01.htm Re: More Upcoming PWQ's - 671/2035 Written by Lee on Thursday, 23rd November 2006 Here are todays equally interesting PWQ's (link below.) http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200607/cmordbk1/61123w01.htm Re: More Upcoming PWQ's - 671/2036 Written by Lee on Thursday, 23rd November 2006 The following upcoming PWQ's may also be of interest : Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many trains of each train company were cancelled in the last 12 months; how many of those trains were cancelled (a) before reaching their final destination and (b) before departure; and what the reason was for each cancellation. Chris Grayling (Epsom & Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many trains were cancelled because of vandalism on the tracks (a) in each region and (b) by each train operating company in each year since 1997. Mrs Si Re: More Upcoming PWQ's - 671/2087 Written by Lee on Tuesday, 28th November 2006 Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will urgently investigate the reliability of the 125 fleet on the Great Western lines; and what discussions he has had with First Great Western on its refurbishment and replacement programme. Mr. Tom Harris: I have held a number of meetings with First Great Western and Network Rail to discuss a range performance issues. Joint action plans are in place between Network Rail and FGW to address these issues and are monitored monthly. The first modified First Great Western High Speed Train ( Re: More Upcoming PWQ's - 671/2088 Written by Lee on Tuesday, 28th November 2006 Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the financial stability of rail franchises. Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what response he has made to the findings of the National Rail Review for Quarter Two, that passengers have not yet seen an improvement in the condition or availability of facilities and services at small or medium-sized rail stations. Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what funds were (a) allocated and (b) spent by National Rail on enhancing the general cleanliness, facilities and services of small and medium-sized railway stations in each of the last four years; how many such projects Network Rail undertook in that period; and what representations he has made to Network Rail on =this issue. Re: More Upcoming PWQ's - 671/2103 Written by Lee on Wednesday, 29th November 2006 John Austin (Erith & Thamesmead): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how his Department has taken account of EU procurement rules in retaining the services of a company to act as an operator of the last resort in the event of franchise failure. John Austin (Erith & Thamesmead): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department employs on a regular basis (a) consultancies and (b) other companies to provide advice on the Department's responsibility when acting as an operator of the last resort in the event of franchise failure. John Austin (Erith & Thamesmead): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much was paid to companies to act as an operator of the last resort on behalf of the Strategic Rail Authority or his Department in each of the last five years; how this fee package was structured; what tender process was used to appoint such companies; and if he will make a statement. John Austin (Erith & Thamesmead): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department pays a retainer to any companies to act as an operator of the last resort in the event of franchise failure; and if he will make a statement. Mr David Evennett (Bexleyheath & Crayford): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent representations he has received on the Kent Integrated Railway franchise. Mr Brian Jenkins (Tamworth): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether plans exist to begin running a 24-hour train service (a) on lines that serve major cities and (b) on other lines. Mr Lee Scott (Ilford North): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions his Department has had with Network Rail on the restoration of the direct rail link between Skipton and Colne. Mr Don Touhig (Islwyn): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with Railtrack to resolve the issue of trains from the Ebbw Valley going directly to Newport when the line is re-opened in 2007. John Austin (Erith & Thamesmead): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions (a) he and (b) his officials have had with (i) the Mayor of London and (ii) Transport for London on (A) the relationship between the new London Rail Concession (LRC) and other national rail services in London and (B) the possible impact of the policy on open access on the LRC. John Austin (Erith & Thamesmead): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions the Strategic Rail Authority has had with bidders for the (a) Integrated Kent franchise and (b) South Western franchise on the impact of the policy of open access on (i) operation of the franchise and (ii) potential (A) subsidy from and (B) revenue to the Government over the course of the franchise. John Austin (Erith & Thamesmead): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the likely impact of the Office of Rail Regulation's policy on track access rights and open access on the franchise round for East Midlands, West Midlands and Cross Country services. John Austin (Erith & Thamesmead): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) consulted (a) freight and passenger operators and (b) current or potential holders of track access rights on access to the route covered by the London Rail Concession being tendered by Transport for London (TfL); and what discussions his Department had with TfL and ORR on this issue. Re: More Upcoming PWQ's - 671/2104 Written by Lee on Wednesday, 29th November 2006 Here are some answers : Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the financial stability of rail franchises. Mr. Tom Harris: The deliverability of Franchise proposals is assessed at contract award. The financial position of franchises is kept under review throughout the contract. Mrs. James: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the removal of buffet bar mark III coaches on First Great Western services; and what assessment he has made of the partial implications for comfort during long distance travel. Mr. Tom Harris: The level and type of on-train catering is a matter for train operators Re: More Upcoming PWQ's - 671/2115 Written by Lee on Thursday, 30th November 2006 Bob Spink (Castle Point): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many miles of light railway are projected for completion in the next five years; and how many projects are involved. Bob Spink (Castle Point): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of how many miles of main and branch line track have been converted to light railway use in each of the last 10 years. Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, on what basis he has agreed rail fare increases in the next calendar year; whether such rises were factored into recent franchise negotiations; and if he will link future fare increases to the rate of inflation. Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the socio-economic profile of passenger use of the railways and its effects on the structuring of fares. Mr Stewart Jackson (Peterborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he plans to investigate the feasibility of establishing new railway stations in areas of significant growth in residential housing in the east of England; and if he will make a statement. Also , the following PWQ's are not strictly relevant , but ive included them anyway..... Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many parliamentary written questions his Department received in each parliamentary session since 2001; and how many of these questions (a) were not answered because of disproportionate cost, (b) were not answered, (c) received answers referring back to a previous answer (i) asked by the hon. Member and (ii) asked by another hon. Member and (d) were grouped together for answer. Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what target his Department has for the maximum acceptable amount of time to answer parliamentary written questions; and what percentage of parliamentary answers met that target in each parliamentary session since 2001. Re: More Upcoming PWQ's - 671/2130 Written by Lee on Friday, 1st December 2006 Mrs. James: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what First Great Western Trains' public service requirements are in relation to peak time services provision between Cardiff Central and Swansea during 5pm to 6pm. Mr. Tom Harris: The service level commitment 2 ( Re: More Upcoming PWQ's - 671/2165 Written by Lee on Monday, 4th December 2006 Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the effects of differentiation between peak and off-peak fares and the effects on lower income users of the rail system; and what plans he has to discuss these issues with the train companies. Mr Iain Wright (Hartlepool):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the effect of the recent increase in rail fares by train operators; and if he will make a statement. Re: More Upcoming PWQ's - 671/2187 Written by Lee on Tuesday, 5th December 2006 Dr. Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how frequently rail franchises are reviewed; and under what circumstances franchise conditions can be altered. Mr. Tom Harris: The performance of all rail franchises is continually monitored. Changes to a franchise specification and committed outputs are only made when there are major changes to the market demand for the services of the franchise or other external factors require a change. Examples are the opening of a new station or a change to the rail network. Such changes are negotiated with the franchisee through the provisions contained in the franchise agreement. Mr. Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many trains of each train company were cancelled in the last 12 months; how many of those trains were cancelled (a) before reaching their final destination and (b) before departure; and what the reason was for each cancellation. Mr. Tom Harris: Train running data for the Rail Network as a whole is collected and processed by Network Rail. The Department holds information on total passenger train cancellations broken down by franchise but not by the reason for each cancellation. Mr. Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether plans exist to begin running a 24-hour train service (a) on lines that serve major cities and (b) on other lines. Mr. Tom Harris: No such plans exist. Mrs. James: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what operating revenue First Great Western is making on its service from London Paddington to Swansea for the most recent period for which figures are available. Mr. Tom Harris: Detailed break-downs of rail franchisees' revenues are commercially confidential. Re: More Upcoming PWQ's - 671/2188 Written by Lee on Tuesday, 5th December 2006 Mr David Drew (Stroud):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, on what basis he has agreed rail fare increases in the next calendar year; whether such rises were factored into recent franchise negotiations; and if he will link future fare increases to the rate of inflation. Re: More Upcoming PWQ's - 671/2208 Written by Lee on Wednesday, 6th December 2006 Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he plans to investigate the feasibility of establishing new railway stations in areas of significant growth in residential housing in the east of England; and if he will make a statement. Mr. Tom Harris: The Department for Transport will consider any proposals for new stations associated with new developments. Any proposal would require an approved business case and agreement with Network Rail that additional stops on the route could be accommodated. In the majority of cases, it would be expected that third parties would fund the costs. Mr. Scott: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions his Department has had with Network Rail on the restoration of the direct rail link between Skipton and Colne. Mr. Tom Harris: The Department has had no discussions with Network Rail on the restoration of a direct rail link between Colne and Skipton. John Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how his Department has taken account of EU procurement rules in retaining the services of a company to act as an operator of the last resort in the event of franchise failure. Mr. Tom Harris: The Strategic Rail Authority awarded a contract in July 2004 to procure specialist advice in connection with Re: More Upcoming PWQ's - 671/2209 Written by Lee on Wednesday, 6th December 2006 Mr Alistair Carmichael (Orkney and Shetland):To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 28th November 2006, Official Report, column 516W, on the Eddington Report, what the (a) staff costs, (b) publication costs and (c) other costs were. Mr James Arbuthnot (North East Hampshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when a decision is expected to be made on the scheme to increase railway capacity by 75 per cent. at Reading Station. Peter Viggers (Gosport): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what tests were applied in judging the viability of the Fareham-Gosport-Portsmouth Light Rapid Transit scheme; and by what measures the scheme fell short of each such test. Re: More Upcoming PWQ's - 671/2234 Written by Lee on Thursday, 7th December 2006 John Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions (a) he and (b) his officials have had with (i) the Mayor of London and (ii) Transport for London on (A) the relationship between the new London Rail Concession (LRC) and other national rail services in London and (B) the possible impact of the policy on open access on the LRC. Mr. Tom Harris: Officials from the Department for Transport (DfT) have had discussions with Transport for London (TfL) regarding the LRC over the last two years. These discussions have covered a number of issues including the arrangements for transferring the franchising of these services from DfT to TfL. Services operated by the LRC will continue to be part of the national rail network and will, therefore, have the same relationship with other national rail services (such as ticket purchasing ability and through fares) through the requirements of the passenger licence 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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