Andrew Dismore

At the London Assembly Plenary meeting today, Labour London Assembly Member for Barnet and Camden Andrew Dismore AM questioned the Minister for London, Gavin Barwell MP, over the decision of Secretary of State for Transport, Chris Grayling MP to refuse to transfer the suburban rail lines to TfL. (video here)

 Mr Dismore confronted the Minister with the leaked letter from Mr Grayling to Boris Johnson, saying that he did not support the transfer so as to keep rail services ‘out of the clutches’ of any future Labour Mayor.

Mr Dismore told the Minister:

‘This clearly shows the decision was not made for legitimate reasons, but was based on party political considerations. The Transport Secretary has put Party politics ahead of the interest of hard pressed rail users’

During the subsequent debate on an emergency motion (text below) (video here)

Mr Dismore said:

‘It needs to be remembered that what the Secretary  of State is now proposing is entirely the opposite of what the Conservatives implemented  when they proceeded with rail privatisation  in 1996, splitting train operation  from infrastructure. This led to the appalling failures of Railtrack and the Potters Bar train crash which cost so many lives.

‘I am also concerned that his decision goes against what we expected for Thameslink. When FCC lost the franchise to Govia, we were told that things would be better but it has gone from bad to worse. When I conducted a survey of those who used Thameslink from Mill Hill there was overwhelming support for the transfer of Thameslink to TfL.

‘We were told that Thameslink would be moved to TfL when the work at London Bridge was completed and the franchise expired, but this is now not on the cards.

‘Conservative Bob Neil MP is right when he called for Grayling’s resignation, because “He’s acted for party reasons and not acted in the interests of London commuters”.

‘I believe the leaked letter is evidence that the decision to exclude TfL was taken for improper reasons, and I think gives a good case for a judicial review of that decision: I hope the Mayor will look carefully at the option to challenge the Transport Secretary in the courts.’

ENDS

Full text of the motion:

This Assembly notes that on 6th December 2016 the Secretary of State for Transport, Chris Grayling MP, announced his plans for the future of rail. These plans require franchises to have integrated operating teams between train services and infrastructure. This Assembly also notes with disappointment that the Minister has formally rejected TfL’s proposals to take over Southeastern services from 2018 and is concerned that this demonstrates the Minister’s attitude to further rail devolution across London.

 

This Assembly notes London’s success story in rail devolution. The North London Line has been transformed beyond recognition since it was taken over by TfL and rebranded as London Overground. Network Rail’s latest public performance measurements for period 8 of 2016/17 show TfL Rail in 1st place and London Overground in 2nd place.

This Assembly highlights the cross party support for further rail devolution in London. For example, Kent County Council would be in favour of TfL taking over parts of the South Eastern franchise. Furthermore, the Conservative and Labour Co-chairs of the cross-party All Party Parliamentary Group for London, Bob Neill MP and Steve Reed MP, are convinced “that transferring more suburban services to TfL will bring about positive and tangible changes for rail passengers across the capital.”

This Assembly believes that through TfL, London is already well-placed to provide solutions to the challenges of transport provision in our capital.

The Assembly therefore asks the Secretary of State for Transport to reconsider his decision not to devolve franchise management to TfL, which has proven record of delivering to a high standard

Proposed by Len Duvall AM

Seconded by Onkar Sahota AM