Mark Lazarowicz: Edinburgh North & Leith

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	Improving the East Coast Main Line
	Mark Lazarowicz (Edinburgh, North and Leith) (Lab/Co-op): What steps he is taking to improve the reliability of train services on the east coast main line. [16817] The Secretary of State for Transport (Mr. Alistair Darling): The new inter-city east coast franchise agreement requires the operator to deliver improvements in both punctuality and reliability. If it fails to do so, the franchise will end sooner than we would otherwise expect. Mark Lazarowicz: On one of the hottest days of this summer, thousands of passengers along the east coast main line were left stranded for hours as a result once again of problems with the overhead wires. To compound their problem, they were treated abysmally by the train operator, which failed to respond to the problem. Will my right hon. Friend ensure that the upgrading of the overhead line system is made a top priority in the new east coast main line franchise? Will he tell GNER in the meantime to make an adequate response when things do go wrong? Mr. Darling: GNER realises that on the day a number of mistakes were made. It has made it clear that it will learn from those mistakes and measures have already been put in hand to ensure that trains are not left stranded for long periods, as happened in July. The problem with the overhead power lines will take longer to resolve. The basic problem, as I am sure the House will know, is that the then Conservative Government, in order to cut costs, placed the overhead gantries further apart than they should have been—[Laughter.] The hon. Member for Rutland and Melton (Mr. Duncan) may laugh, but that is precisely what happened. The railway line was badly designed because financial constraints were imposed by the then Conservative Government. That is what happens when one tries to cut corners with public expenditure—the public suffer as a result. However, Network Rail and GNER are working together to sort the problem out, which will take some time. Everyone concerned with the railways is aware that the line is extremely busy, that many people use it, and that lessons need to be learned from what happened last July.

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	11th October 2005, Col 151