Letter to the Secretary of State for Transport – Fare Prices
During August, news surfaced that GTR were planning on raising the price of fares and there was despair and anger from constituents. Upon hearing the news I wrote to the Secretary of State for Transport, Chris Grayling MP, to ask that train fares for GTR customers be frozen until a normal service resumes. This announcement followed months of delays, cancellations, station skipping and industrial action – I said that any increase in fare prices would be insult to injury.
You can read the full letter here:
https://www.timloughton.com/news/tim-loughton-mp-writes-transport-secretary-asking-train-fares-gtr-be-frozen
Meeting with the Secretary of State of Transport and Rail Minister
I received two very helpful letters from the Secretary of State for Transport, Chris Grayling MP, and the Rail Minister, Paul Maynard, respectively, following a round table meeting with them and other parliamentary colleagues, whose constituents are being terribly affected by Southern's abysmal service, at the beginning of September.
The letters help clarify a number of points, including how the £20m additional funds will be spent, the Government's position on the RMT strikes and the plans for sorting out this mess and resuming normal services. You can read them both here:https://www.timloughton.com/news/letters-secretary-state-transport-and-rail-minister.
I was impressed how active both the Secretary of State and the Minister had been since they took over their brief in the summer. I was pleased to hear that none of the £20m fund will be going to Southern Rail and will instead be used on infrastructure spending, which is organised by Network Rail. I was also pleased to hear that the Transport Secretary was open to investing more into the infrastructure in order for normal service to resume.
GTR Adjournment Debate
Meanwhile, last week, I took part in an Adjournment Debate, led by my colleague Henry Smith MP, on GTR. You can see my contribution to the debate here:https://youtu.be/HV6lysF1nPA.
It is worth considering that the debate took place at 10pm and Adjournment Debates are not particularly well attended. You can read more about Adjournment Debates here:https://www.parliament.uk/about/how/business/debates/adjournment/.
GTR Consultation
Along with other MPs, I also attended a meeting with GTR’s CEO, Charles Horton, last week, where we were updated on proposals for redesigning the current rail timetable. GTR has launched an extensive Consultation which sets out proposed changes to the timetable which will be operated by GTR in 2018 following the completion of the Thamleslink Programme.
When the Programme completes in 2018, it will – according to GTR – transform north-south travel through London; journeys will be improved with trains every two to three minutes through central London at peak times. This will be the biggest timetable change on the routes affected in a generation. They are therefore seeking feedback from any interested parties who may be affected by the proposed changes to help shape the new pattern.
The consultation will be the earliest a train operator has released proposals in advance of the planned changes allowing sufficient time for meaningful and on-going engagement.
A range of improvements are proposed, aimed at simplifying the network by introducing new and revised routes, improving journey times on a numbers of routes through changes to calling patterns by protecting journeys that are important for passengers. Our proposals include a complete redesign of the network.
A number of train services currently operated by Southern will, by 2018, be transferred to Thameslink creating new south to north journey opportunities to Cambridge, improving connectivity with future Crossrail trains at Farringdon, national and international connectivity at London St Pancras International.
Brighton Mainline
- From 2016, new and longer Class 700 trains introduced on Thamleslink services
- Continuation of all day train service between Brighton, Gatwick Airport, Central London and St Albans, Luton and Bedford.
- From May 2018, new, direct all day train service between Brighton, Gatwick Airport, Central London and Stevenage and Cambridge.
West Coastway and Arun Valley
- From 2018, new direct Monday to Friday peak train service between Littlehampton, Worthing, Hove, Central London, St Albans, Luton and Bedford.
- No significant changes proposed for Monday to Friday and Saturday daytime services
- Proposals for some additional Monday to Friday morning peak services to London Victoria
- Proposals for revised Sunday services designed to improve journey times
East Coastway
- Improved frequency of train services between Brighton and Lewes
- Proposals for daily train service at Cooksbridge
- Proposals for improved Monday to Friday peak journey time improvements between London, Eastbourne, Bexhill and Hastings
- Options to address significant overcrowding between Brighton and Ashford International
For further information and how to respond please visit our websites: gatwickexpress.com, southernrailway.com and thameslinkrailway.com.