Tag: Karl Turner

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Karl Turner on 2015-02-20.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what powers he has to vary, suspend and terminate the current tendering process for Northern Rail and TransPennine Express franchises.

Claire Perry

As part of the Department’s standard procurement process, the Secretary of State expressly reserves the right to make whatever changes he sees fit to the structure and timing of the procurement process or to cancel the process in its entirety at any stage. This arrangement is not particular to the Northern and Transpennine Express franchises.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Karl Turner on 2015-02-20.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, for how long Pacer trains will continue to operate on Northern Rail services; and when all Pacer trains will be retired.

Claire Perry

We are committed to improving services for passengers across the North. We recognise that Pacers fall short of passengers’ expectations, which is why in our Invitation To Tender, we will specifically ask bidders to set out plans for how they will phase out these trains from the Northern Rail franchise, either in their core proposition or as an option.

Sadly, the last Northern franchise, let in 2004, contained no such provision.

Further details will be set out in the Invitation To Tender for the Northern franchise, which will be published shortly.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Karl Turner on 2015-02-20.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, on how many occasions representatives of his Department have met Rail North since the close of the consultation for the Northern Rail and TransPennine Express franchises; and who represented Rail North at each such meeting.

Claire Perry

We have been working closely with Rail North on developing the specifications for the Invitation To Tenders, with Rail North officers embedded with the Department’s project teams for many months. In addition Rail North senior managers have attended regular meetings with the Department. Officials from the Department have also met with and presented to Rail North Leaders.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Karl Turner on 2015-02-20.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether each local authority comprising Rail North will be asked to approve that body’s response to the consultation for the Northern Rail and TransPennine Express franchises.

Claire Perry

We have been working closely with Rail North on the response to the Northern and TransPennine Express consultation, which has been developed jointly. Rail North have confirmed through their own processes that they are in agreement with publishing the response as a joint document.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Karl Turner on 2015-02-20.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the existing Rail North board will be asked to assist in formulating the response to the consultation for the Northern Rail and TransPennine Express franchises.

Claire Perry

We have been working closely with Rail North on the response to the Northern and TransPennine Express consultation, which has been developed jointly and will be published as a joint document.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Karl Turner on 2015-02-20.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, which staff of Rail North will be involved in formulating the response to the consultation for the Northern Rail and TransPennine Express franchises.

Claire Perry

We have been working closely with Rail North on the response to the Northern and TransPennine Express consultation, which has been developed jointly and will be published as a joint document. Rail North officers and senior managers have been involved in the formulation of the response to the consultation.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Karl Turner on 2015-02-20.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether representatives from each local authority comprising Rail North will be asked to approve Rail North’s response to the consultation for the Northern Rail and TransPennine Express franchises.

Claire Perry

We have been working closely with Rail North on the response to the Northern and TransPennine Express consultation, which has been developed jointly and will be published as a joint document.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Karl Turner on 2015-02-20.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many approvals his Department has given to (a) close and (b) change hours for ticket offices in the last five years.

Claire Perry

140 changes and 4 closures on the rail network have been approved since May 2010. This information is in the attached spreadsheet.

By contrast, between May 2005 and May 2010, approvals were given for reductions in ticket office opening hours at approximately 300 stations with around a further 100 reductions agreed by the train operators with Passenger Focus (and London TravelWatch where appropriate) without needing reference to the Department. In addition, closures were approved at 6 stations.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Karl Turner on 2015-02-20.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will take steps in the invitation to tender for the Northern Rail and TransPennine Express franchises to ensure that there is always a second person on the train in addition to the driver.

Claire Perry

The Department does not specify the numbers of staff or how they should be deployed, as this is something that the operators are much better placed to understand and manage than we are.

Train operating companies have to abide by all appropriate health and safety requirements.