STRATEGIC RAIL AUTHORITY AND THE GREATER ANGLIA FRANCHISE

Early day motion 341, tabled 5 January 2004 by Bob Russell (Liberal Democrat). Signed by 5 members.

That this House condemns the decision of the Strategic Rail Authority to hand over the Greater Anglia Franchise to National Express; believes that rail passengers would have been better served had the existing operators, the award-winning First Great Eastern and Anglia Railways, been allowed to continue with the franchise; notes with disapproval that the Strategic Rail Authority is a quango which is not answerable to Parliament nor the travelling public and that it did not consult rail users on the preference on who should have the Greater Anglia Franchise; further notes the significance of comments by Mr Graham Male of the Colchester Rail Users Association that 'we have had no contact with National Express right through the bidding process' and that 'National Express has a chequered record with the franchises it already runs'; is appalled to learn that National Express will not be providing new locomotives and carriages on the mainline London to Norwich service; challenges the Strategic Rail Authority on why this was not made a condition of the new franchise; demands that the Strategic Rail Authority provide an explanation on why National Express was selected in preference to First Great Eastern and Anglia Railways; and calls on the Government to introduce effective, democratic accountability to the railway industry.

Signatures by party: Liberal Democrat 4, Labour 1.