On 17th December, the Department of Transport’s consultation for the East Anglia Rail Franchise Invitation to Tender will draw to a close. This marks the end of three months for bidders; Abellio East Anglia Limited, First East Anglia Limited and National Express East Anglia Trains Limited when they submit their proposals for the franchise bid.
Rail travel is all about delivery and that is what I want to see from this tender. For the eastern region is among the highest for train usage in the UK. I know from personal experience as well as speaking with passengers, that our trains are frequently delayed, cancelled and invariably overcrowded, sometimes turning people away. The fabric of both our rolling stock and our stations is in tatters and unacceptable for a country that would like to boast a modern railway service.
It is no wonder 66% of passengers do not feel they are receiving a service which is value for money. Our region is in desperate need of twenty first century rolling stock, improved station buildings with facilities as well as a more frequent and reliable service. Quite simply, East Anglia is stuck in economy and trailing behind first class UK rail travel.
The Invitation to Tender is our opportunity for the next decade to make sure East Anglia rail deliver and I have been pushing hard for improvements to rail services across the region. In collaboration with our regional experts, I have been lobbying the Department of Transport and its Ministers for an hourly service between Ipswich and Peterborough, a service which is becoming increasingly popular and over-crowded.
It is vital stations like Stowmarket meet the needs of its one million yearly passengers. This includes access for disabled and wheelchair users, a provision which should go without saying.
I expect to see updated carriages, more seating and Wi-Fi to accommodate the increasing numbers, as right across the region including Cambridge and Bury St Edmunds, economic growth delivers more jobs and more housing. This and other improvements will deliver the quality we both expect and deserve from our trains.
I am determined to see the new franchise deliver what East Anglia needs, in light of the Government’s recent commitment to a 50% increase in transport spending. That is why I have called my regional colleagues together and secured a debate in the House on the eve of the consultation closure, for a final push to deliver the rail future of East Anglia.
Therefore, with Christmas just around the corner, I am ensuring the East Anglia Rail Franchise is top of the Government’s Christmas list.
Published in the EADT