That this House notes the comments made by the Transport Secretary to BBC News on Monday 22nd November implying that rural rail services were in the business of carting fresh air around the country; believes that this constitutes a potentially serious threat to the long-term future of rural rail services; is concerned that these comments coincided with the Community Rail Development Strategy published the same day; welcomes those proposals in the strategy aimed at increasing passenger volume on rural lines; but calls on the Government to make a long term commitment to rural rail line services as part of an integrated strategy for the rail and transport network, aimed at reducing road traffic and pollution by promoting greater availability and use of public transport.

That this House notes the comments made by the Transport Secretary to BBC News on Monday 22nd November implying that rural rail services were in the business of carting fresh air around the country; believes that this constitutes a potentially serious threat to the long-term future of rural rail services;...

That this House notes that it is one year since the Secretary of State for Transport asked the Strategic Rail Authority and the industry to work together to develop a national discount rail card; and that, a year on, this House and the travelling public are still waiting for the development of such a product which could do so much to encourage regular use of rail; further notes that this is despite support from a coalition of 25 major national non-governmental organisations in the Way to Go campaign and from honourable Members who have signed no fewer than three early day motions in support of a national railcard; calls on the rail industry to introduce such a card at the earliest possible opportunity; and urges the Secretary of State to ensure that the current Rail Review creates a structure that will take a more passenger-focused approach and will make the introduction of a national railcard an immediate priority.

That this House notes that it is one year since the Secretary of State for Transport asked the Strategic Rail Authority and the industry to work together to develop a national discount rail card; and that, a year on, this House and the travelling public are still waiting for the...

That this House is alarmed about reports that the Home Office is proposing to remove from train drivers involved in witnessing suicides and/or trespass deaths, their right to claim compensation under the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme; believes such a move to be wrong and misguided as it flies in the face of previous rulings that found railway suicides to be special cases; and further believes that it fails to grasp the levels and effects of trauma and despair suffered by those innocent drivers unfortunately involved.

That this House is alarmed about reports that the Home Office is proposing to remove from train drivers involved in witnessing suicides and/or trespass deaths, their right to claim compensation under the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme; believes such a move to be wrong and misguided as it flies in the...

That this House notes that Jarvis has accepted liability for the Potters Bar derailment and supports the request of the families involved for a full public enquiry into the tragedy; is concerned that Jarvis is still responsible for over 50 per cent. of renewals on the national rail network and asks for this work to be taken in house by Network Rail at the earliest opportunity; is equally concerned that Jarvis continues to undertake maintenance contracts on the London Underground and calls on these contracts to be terminated; believes Conservative Mayoral candidate Mr Steve Norris's continued chairmanship of Jarvis represents a clear conflict of interest; and urges Mr Norris to choose whether he wishes to represent London passengers or Jarvis shareholders.

That this House notes that Jarvis has accepted liability for the Potters Bar derailment and supports the request of the families involved for a full public enquiry into the tragedy; is concerned that Jarvis is still responsible for over 50 per cent. of renewals on the national rail network and...

That this House welcomes the recent statement from the Secretary of State for Transport in which he indicated that he was considering devolving some key rail investment decisions to passenger transport executives in the English regions; expresses its concern about the current investment programme of the Strategic Rail Authority which provides for inadequate resources for improving the capacity and effectiveness of rail services within the passenger transport executive's areas over the remainder of the 10 year transport plan; therefore calls upon the Government to devolve to the passenger transport executives the resources and powers necessary for them to ensure the most effective integrated heavy rail, light rail and bus transport systems possible thereby reducing social exclusion and improving local and national economic performance; and further notes that this strategy is supported in the recent report by the Transport Select committee, The Future of The Railway.

That this House welcomes the recent statement from the Secretary of State for Transport in which he indicated that he was considering devolving some key rail investment decisions to passenger transport executives in the English regions; expresses its concern about the current investment programme of the Strategic Rail Authority which...

That this House commends the disability charity, Leonard Cheshire, for the success of its All Aboard campaign; notes the strength of feelings amongst the disability movement in support of an early end date for inaccessible trains and widespread opposition to an end date of 2035; and therefore urges the Government to bring forward an early end date ensuring fair and equal access to the railways network for all.

That this House commends the disability charity, Leonard Cheshire, for the success of its All Aboard campaign; notes the strength of feelings amongst the disability movement in support of an early end date for inaccessible trains and widespread opposition to an end date of 2035; and therefore urges the Government...

That this House welcomes Network Rail's decision to bring all infrastructure maintenance contracts in-house, ending the practice of contracting this work to outside parties; believes bringing railway maintenance in-house will help control costs, improve safety standards and performance; notes that, for the first time since privatisation the railway network will have an integrated, national maintenance programme; and offers its support to the staff and management of Network Rail in their continuing efforts to improve the safety, punctuality and efficiency of Britain's railways.

That this House welcomes Network Rail's decision to bring all infrastructure maintenance contracts in-house, ending the practice of contracting this work to outside parties; believes bringing railway maintenance in-house will help control costs, improve safety standards and performance; notes that, for the first time since privatisation the railway network will...

That this House welcomes the decision by Network Rail to take over Jarvis rail maintenance contracts; notes that 40 per cent. of rail maintenance will now be under the control of Network Rail; believes bringing railway maintenance in-house will help control costs, improve the standards of safety and reduce the disastrous fragmentation of the rail industry; and urges the Government to ensure that all railway maintenance is brought under the direct control of Network Rail at the earliest opportunity.

That this House welcomes the decision by Network Rail to take over Jarvis rail maintenance contracts; notes that 40 per cent. of rail maintenance will now be under the control of Network Rail; believes bringing railway maintenance in-house will help control costs, improve the standards of safety and reduce the...

That this House notes the intention of Network Rail to continue their introduction of telecommunications masts up to 33 metres in height and requests that the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister makes clear his intention that rail undertakings will be required to seek full planning permission for masts on their land over 15 metres in height and to observe the guidance offered in Schedule 2 Part 24 (Development by Telecommunications Code System operators) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1995.

That this House notes the intention of Network Rail to continue their introduction of telecommunications masts up to 33 metres in height and requests that the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister makes clear his intention that rail undertakings will be required to seek full planning permission for masts on...