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East Coast Main Line

I take the right hon. Gentleman's point, but I ask him to accept that in this instance a later arrival time might be unavoidable. However, we will explore all possibilities. The right hon. Gentleman has expressed concern about the widely misreported plan to withdraw through services between the east coast main line and Glasgow. I would like to set the record straight on this matter. At present, East Coast services between London and Edinburgh are extended to and from Glasgow Central at two-hourly intervals throughout the day. In the May 2011 timetable it is proposed that most of those trains should run only between London and Edinburgh. Instead, CrossCountry services between Edinburgh, Yorkshire, the midlands and south-west England would be extended to start and finish at Glasgow Central at two-hourly intervals. There would be no withdrawal of services—simply a change of train operator—and there would continue to be opportunities to make through journeys between stations in Northumberland and Glasgow. The East Coast train operator has recently commenced consultation with passengers and other stakeholders on the details of the May 2011 timetable proposal, and I am sure that many Members of the House will wish to contribute their views. I take the right hon. Gentleman's point that some of the consultation documents were not easy to find. The rail regulator's documents were perhaps more technical in nature, and therefore not intended for widespread access. However, the Department for Transport's franchise consultation is available on our website and as a hard copy, and the Department will be holding stakeholder events on the proposed franchise arrangements, including one in Newcastle. With regard to the information provided by the East Coast train operator on its ambitions for the timetable, I will draw the right hon. Gentleman's comments to the attention of the company.