STRATEGIC RAIL AUTHORITY AND FIRST GREAT EASTERN RAILWAY

Early day motion 1261, tabled 20 May 2003 by Bob Russell (Liberal Democrat). Signed by 13 members.

That this House deplores the decision of the Strategic Rail Authority to exclude First Great Eastern Railway from the shortlist for the new Greater Anglia franchise; notes that First Great Eastern is the best performing train operator in London and the South-East, and the only franchise in the region not receiving public support, turning a ú40 million per year subsidy into a ú10 million premium to the Government; further notes that the latest report from the London Transport Users' Committee shows that First Great Eastern recorded the best punctuality and reliability score of all operators running services to London; challenges the SRA over its refusal to give verifiable reasons for excluding First Great Eastern, and asks if the decision has more to do with the settling of old scores by senior members of the SRA against First Great Eastern than it has to do with what is best for a public railway service in the East of England; observes that a survey conducted by MORI revealed that only three per cent of passengers support the SRA's decision to exclude First Great Eastern services was twice that of the national level for rail franchises; and calls upon the Government to demand that the quango SRA responds to the best interests of railway users in the East of England, by including First Great Eastern Railway in the shortlist for the Greater Anglia franchise.

Signatures by party: Labour 8, Conservative 3, Liberal Democrat 2.