A1 – in the House of Commons at 11:30 am on 19 December 2006.
Sally Keeble
Labour, Northampton North
11:30,
19 December 2006
What plans he has for the development of train services to Northampton; and if he will make a statement.
Tom Harris
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Plans for train services at Northampton are contained in the specification for the new west midlands franchise and outputs of the west coast main line modernisation project. Both have been published by the Department. They include an increase in the number of trains to and from the west midlands, and a new inter-regional service between Euston and Crewe.
Sally Keeble
Labour, Northampton North
In Northampton, which is one of the growth areas, there is a particular need for upgrading of the line that runs north from the town so that we can have fast main line services commensurate with those on the west coast main line, but the matter is not due to be examined until 2012. Will my hon. Friend consider bringing forward the timetable, and will he meet me with members of the rail users group in the new year to discuss that and other issues relating to our train service?
Tom Harris
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
I shall be happy to meet my hon. Friend and I pay tribute to the work that she has done on behalf of her constituents, but I cannot at this stage offer her any encouragement in respect of Northampton's inclusion in fast inter-city services. Adding Northampton as a stop to the current inter-city routes would add12 minutes to total journey times. However, when modernisation works at Rugby are completed, a new hourly service will link Northampton with the main stations on the west coast main line to Crewe. That will be in addition to the reinstatement of the previous twice-hourly service between Northampton and the north.
Edward Garnier
Shadow Minister (Home Affairs)
The Minister will know that many of the constituents ofMs Keeble use the Midland Mainline service, which starts at St. Pancras and heads up to Sheffield. Will he ensure that when the decision is made on which new franchise is to gain the Midland Mainline service, the service to Market Harborough—which is also used by Northamptonshire people—is not diminished in any way? At present we have a half-hourly service, but there are proposals to reduce it to an hourly service off peak. Will the Minister make certain that that does not happen?
Tom Harris
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
As the hon. and learned Gentleman will know, the minimum specification for franchises is a matter for public consultation. As the local Member of Parliament, he will be invited to take part in that consultation if he has not already done so.
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