PUBLIC OWNERSHIP OF GREATER WESTERN FRANCHISE

Early day motion 534, tabled 6 July 2005 by David Drew (Labour). Signed by 36 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 Greater Western franchise from April 2006 by combining existing operations at the Great Western, Great Western Link and Wessex Trains franchises; welcomes the improvements in performance and reliability on South Eastern Trains since this service returned to the public sector, and the report by the 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 in the Greater Western area into the public sector as existing franchises expire.

Signatures by party: Labour 31, Plaid Cymru 3, Liberal Democrat 2.