PUBLIC OWNERSHIP OF THAMESLINK/GREAT NORTHERN FRANCHISE

Early day motion 532, tabled 6 July 2005 by Kelvin Hopkins (Labour). Signed by 29 members.

That this House remains deeply concerned that despite public subsidy being more than three times the amount received by British Rail, passengers continue to endure far worse punctuality rates than under public ownership; notes proposals to create a new Thameslink/Great Northern franchise by combining existing operations at the Thameslink and Great Northern (currently WAGN) franchises to take effect from April 2006; welcomes the improvements in performance and reliability on South Eastern Trains since this service returned to the public sector, and the report by Catalyst think-tank stating that public ownership of the railway would save a minimum of £500 million a year; and therefore calls upon the Government to integrate passenger services on the current Thameslink and Great Northern routes into the public sector as the existing franchises expire.

Signatures by party: Labour 27, Liberal Democrat 2.