NETWORK RAIL AND IN-HOUSE MAINTENANCE

Early day motion 491, tabled 13 January 2003 by Kelvin Hopkins (Labour). Signed by 62 members.

That this House congratulates Network Rail on its decision to take over direct responsibility for maintenance of the rail infrastructure in the Reading area; notes that Network Rail may consider taking back in-house 'one or two other contract areas in other parts of the network'; considers that these moves mark another very significant stage on the route back to a publicly owned integrated national railway system, accountable ultimately to Parliament and thus to the taxpayer and the travelling public; welcomes the decision as further concrete evidence of the failure of rail privatisation and of private contracting in the railway industry which has seen costs multiply; and looks forward to similar sensible decisions by Network Rail in the near future.

Signatures by party: Labour 54, Labour/Co-operative 6, Liberal Democrat 1, Plaid Cymru 1.