Railways: East Coast Main Line
Lord Berkeley asked Her Majesty’s Government what is their response to reports that National Express is in discussions about the future of the franchise for the East Coast main line.
during the exchanges...
Lord Faulkner of Worcester: My Lords, following on from the reference by the noble Lord, Lord Palmer, to the late Lord Peyton, can my noble friend confirm that he succeeded in moving an amendment in your Lordships’ House which gave the then British Railways Board the opportunity to run franchises in competition with the train operating companies which were bidding for them? Can he confirm also that, if franchises fail, he and the Department for Transport have an emergency plan for other operators to step in and take over?
© Lords Hansard 12 May 2009
during the exchanges...
Lord Faulkner of Worcester: My Lords, following on from the reference by the noble Lord, Lord Palmer, to the late Lord Peyton, can my noble friend confirm that he succeeded in moving an amendment in your Lordships’ House which gave the then British Railways Board the opportunity to run franchises in competition with the train operating companies which were bidding for them? Can he confirm also that, if franchises fail, he and the Department for Transport have an emergency plan for other operators to step in and take over?
© Lords Hansard 12 May 2009