Boxing Day Train Services

EDM number 685 in 2017-19, proposed by John Grogan on 13/12/2017.
Categorised under the topic of Railways.

That this House expresses its deep disappointment that once again during this Christmas season the railways will undergo a 58-hour shutdown with no services whatsoever being provided on the overwhelming majority of lines; notes that this is in stark contrast to the situation that prevails in the rest of Europe where regular services run throughout the Christmas holidays; further notes that the closure of the rail network is particularly hard on those spending Christmas alone and leaves many people without access to transport to visit family or friends or attend sporting events or sales; notes that in the North of England the terms of the Northern Rail franchise mean that 60 services must be provided by the company on 28 December 2018 and that similar obligations are detailed in the TransPennine Franchise; and calls on the Department for Transport, Transport for London, Transport for the North, the Combined Authorities, the Association of Train Operating Companies and Network Rail to work together to ensure that from 2019 an adequate rail service is provided on Boxing Day nationwide and that all future rail franchises have provisions for Boxing Day services.

This motion has been signed by a total of 21 MPs.