PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
South Western Railway timetable (17 October 2021)

That this House notes the timetable proposed by South Western Railway, due to be implemented in December 2022, would cut hundreds of peak and off-peak suburban and mainline services; further notes that the passenger surveys on which the reduced timetable is based were conducted at the beginning of the covid-19 pandemic and during national lockdowns, when passengers were warned against using the railway; expresses concern that the consultation fails to reference Network Rail’s South West Mainline Study in sufficient detail, which provided detailed scenario planning for the South West Mainline alongside detailed projection of passenger demand and which in every scenario proposed to increase service levels and the number of trains per hour; acknowledges that this country is facing a climate crisis, is hosting COP26 climate talks, and that railways are vital in reducing climate emissions; recognises the need for a massive investment in public transport; and calls upon the Government to intervene to protect, maintain and enhance rail services.

Sponsored by:
Marsha De Cordova (Labour)