I want to continue to highlight the importance of local railways—an issue that has already been raised by the hon. Member for Bathgate and Linlithgow (Kirsteen Sullivan). This year is the 200th anniversary of Scotland’s first modern railway, the Monkland and Kirkintilloch line. It opened in 1826, just months after...

I want to continue to highlight the importance of local railways—an issue that has already been raised by the hon. Member for Bathgate and Linlithgow (Kirsteen Sullivan). This year is the 200th anniversary of Scotland’s first modern railway, the Monkland and Kirkintilloch line. It opened in 1826, just months after...

I certainly congratulate everyone involved in the commemoration of the Monkland railway. It is, from the hon. Lady’s account, one of the oldest lines, and I know how important such lines are from knowledge of my region, where the first railways were developed—similarly to hers—for work on the coalfield. I...

I certainly congratulate everyone involved in the commemoration of the Monkland railway. It is, from the hon. Lady’s account, one of the oldest lines, and I know how important such lines are from knowledge of my region, where the first railways were developed—similarly to hers—for work on the coalfield. I...

Amendment to clause 25 negatived on division (5 votes to 9). Clauses 25 TO 30 agreed to. Amendment to clause 31, discussed with an amendment, Government amendments and new clause 6, negatived on division (3 votes to 9). Clause 31 agreed to, as amended. Amendment to clause 32 negatived on division (3 votes to 9). Clause 32 agreed to. Amendment to clause 33 negatived on division (6 votes to 9). Clause 33 agreed to. Clause 34, discussed with amendments and new clauses 51 and 59. Three amendments negatived on division (6 votes to 9 respectively). An amendment, discussed with new clause 13, withdrawn. Eight amendments negatived on division (6 votes to 9 respectively). Clause 34 under consideration when the Committee adjourned.

Amendment to clause 25 negatived on division (5 votes to 9). Clauses 25 TO 30 agreed to. Amendment to clause 31, discussed with an amendment, Government amendments and new clause 6, negatived on division (3 votes to 9). Clause 31 agreed to, as amended. Amendment to clause 32 negatived on...

Amendment to clause 7, discussed with other amendments and new clause 4. Amendment negatived on division (5 votes to 10). Another amendment negatived on division (3 votes to 12). Government amendments agreed to. Amendment negatived on division (3 votes to 10). Clause 7 agreed to as amended. Clause 8 agreed to. Amendment to clause 9, discussed with other amendments. Amendment negatived on division (6 votes to 10). Amendment negatived on division (4 votes to 12). Amendment negatived on division (6 votes to 10). Clauses 9 and 10 agreed to. Clause 11 agreed to. Amendment to schedule 1 negatived on division (6 votes to 10). Committee adjourned.

Amendment to clause 7, discussed with other amendments and new clause 4. Amendment negatived on division (5 votes to 10). Another amendment negatived on division (3 votes to 12). Government amendments agreed to. Amendment negatived on division (3 votes to 10). Clause 7 agreed to as amended. Clause 8 agreed...

Clause 3 discussed with new clauses and amendments. Clause 3 amendment 241, negatived on division (5 to 9). Clause 3 amendment 130, negatived on division (5 to 9). Clause 3 amendment 5, negatived on division (5 to 9). Clause 3 amendment 133, negatived on division (5 to 9). Clauses 3 and 4 agreed to. Clause 5 amendment 232, negatived on division (5 to 7). Clause 5 agreed to. Clause 6 amendment 165 agreed to. Clause 6 as amended, agreed to. Written evidence reported to the House.

Clause 3 discussed with new clauses and amendments. Clause 3 amendment 241, negatived on division (5 to 9). Clause 3 amendment 130, negatived on division (5 to 9). Clause 3 amendment 5, negatived on division (5 to 9). Clause 3 amendment 133, negatived on division (5 to 9). Clauses 3...

Examination of witnesses. Committee adjourned till 22 January. Written evidence reported to the House.

Examination of witnesses. Committee adjourned till 22 January. Written evidence reported to the House.

One area where we can all agree we want to see passenger growth is among those with disabilities and those who find steps incredibly difficult. On 24 May 2024, the previous Government announced that 50 stations, including my local station at Leagrave, would benefit from step-free access, but the funding...

One area where we can all agree we want to see passenger growth is among those with disabilities and those who find steps incredibly difficult. On 24 May 2024, the previous Government announced that 50 stations, including my local station at Leagrave, would benefit from step-free access, but the funding...

The previous Government did a huge amount to improve access to stations throughout the country. I would like to see more of that.

The previous Government did a huge amount to improve access to stations throughout the country. I would like to see more of that.

Whether it is in the private sector or the public sector, and whether it was under the last Government or this Government—by the way, the current Government have been in power for 18 months, so all that is wearing a bit thin—passengers, and particularly disabled passengers, just want a railway...

Whether it is in the private sector or the public sector, and whether it was under the last Government or this Government—by the way, the current Government have been in power for 18 months, so all that is wearing a bit thin—passengers, and particularly disabled passengers, just want a railway...

I totally agree with my right hon. Friend on that issue. Earlier, he made the important point that people want to see through-trains running, because there is nothing that benefits disabled passengers more than the through-train services such as from his constituency, which would be available with open access. I...

I totally agree with my right hon. Friend on that issue. Earlier, he made the important point that people want to see through-trains running, because there is nothing that benefits disabled passengers more than the through-train services such as from his constituency, which would be available with open access. I...

The shadow Secretary of State talks about modernisation and his concerns about the Government’s approach. In 2017, South Western Railway spent £1 billion on new trains to serve my constituents on the Reading to Waterloo line. Those trains sat in sidings, and it was not until SWR was brought back...

The shadow Secretary of State talks about modernisation and his concerns about the Government’s approach. In 2017, South Western Railway spent £1 billion on new trains to serve my constituents on the Reading to Waterloo line. Those trains sat in sidings, and it was not until SWR was brought back...

The hon. Gentleman, along with some of his colleagues, has not been listening to what I have been saying, because we put forward the Williams-Shapps review to deliver a new concessionary model. Some of the funding he mentioned was delivered through modernisation, and it was delivered under the last Government....

The hon. Gentleman, along with some of his colleagues, has not been listening to what I have been saying, because we put forward the Williams-Shapps review to deliver a new concessionary model. Some of the funding he mentioned was delivered through modernisation, and it was delivered under the last Government....

The shadow Secretary of State talks about passengers being at the heart of the Bill. He earlier raised watchdogs and dogs not having teeth. As a veterinary surgeon, I am very conscious of a subset of dogs that we need to think about in relation to passenger access. Does he...

The shadow Secretary of State talks about passengers being at the heart of the Bill. He earlier raised watchdogs and dogs not having teeth. As a veterinary surgeon, I am very conscious of a subset of dogs that we need to think about in relation to passenger access. Does he...

I totally agree with my hon. Friend. It is clear that when it comes to modernisation, access and new trains, that is exactly what we want to see delivered, and there is no mention of that in the Bill.

We have tabled our reasoned amendment today because a Bill with no...

I totally agree with my hon. Friend. It is clear that when it comes to modernisation, access and new trains, that is exactly what we want to see delivered, and there is no mention of that in the Bill.

We have tabled our reasoned amendment today because a Bill with no...

I refer the House to my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests, and in particular the donations from trade unions through my constituency Labour party, of which I am proud.

This landmark legislation will finally address the imbalance in the sector. Since Mrs Thatcher’s privatisation of the railways, the...

I refer the House to my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests, and in particular the donations from trade unions through my constituency Labour party, of which I am proud.

This landmark legislation will finally address the imbalance in the sector. Since Mrs Thatcher’s privatisation of the railways, the...

I thank those who have put so much work into the Bill, which has had a long gestation, with its roots in the multiple timetable change meltdowns across the network in May 2018. They and the Government are right to recognise that our railways need change. That should be our...

I thank those who have put so much work into the Bill, which has had a long gestation, with its roots in the multiple timetable change meltdowns across the network in May 2018. They and the Government are right to recognise that our railways need change. That should be our...

In constituencies such as North Shropshire, where access to the railway is very poor indeed, we have initiatives for step-free access at Whitchurch station and to connect Oswestry, which is the second largest town in Shropshire but has no rail connection, to the line at Gobowen. Does my hon. Friend...

In constituencies such as North Shropshire, where access to the railway is very poor indeed, we have initiatives for step-free access at Whitchurch station and to connect Oswestry, which is the second largest town in Shropshire but has no rail connection, to the line at Gobowen. Does my hon. Friend...

My hon. Friend is quite right to point out that some of the more sparsely populated parts of our country have been neglected in their rail offer. It is important that the spending recognises that and does not just follow large towns or cities or inter-city routes.

My hon. Friend is quite right to point out that some of the more sparsely populated parts of our country have been neglected in their rail offer. It is important that the spending recognises that and does not just follow large towns or cities or inter-city routes.