In a debate in Parliament, I spoke positively in Parliament about our rail industry. Like much in life, there is too much negativity in the media with no focus on the many positives. Compared to our EU neighbours, our safety, performance, passenger numbers and investment is top of the class.

East Sussex MP, Huw Merriman, urged the Chancellor to deliver more investment in East Sussex in the House of Commons today.

This week, I was successful in calling for a Westminster Hall debate on ‘Transport for the South East’. This is the name of a new transport body which has been set up by local authorities and enterprise partnerships spanning 7.5m residents in the south east.

Today Huw spoke in the Opposition Day Debate on Rail Franchising. You can watch Huw speak here: https://goo.gl/n83nbx and read Huw's speech below. 

The New Year ushers in bad news on fare increases.

The Department for Transport has today (Wednesday 29 November) published the Invitation To Tender (ITT) for the next South Eastern Franchise. The document set out a plan for high quality, frequent and reliable services, for a railway which is fit for the future and which ensures that South Eastern rail services contribute towards supporting economic growth and opportunity.
The document sets out how faster services will operate between London and Hastings, Rye, Bexhill and Battle. The ITT also explicitly encourages bidders for the next franchise to put forward ambitious and innovative proposals to deliver High Speed services between London St Pancras, Rye, Hastings and Bexhill.

Bexhill and Battle MP, Huw Merriman, brought a bill before Parliament yesterday that called for automatic compensation for passengers who experience delays or cancellations to their journeys.

Local MPs, Amber Rudd and Huw Merriman, have today warmly welcomed the decision by train drivers from the Aslef union to bring to an end their 18 month strike action on Southern Rail.

Having used this column to grapple for optimism, or bemoan the latest setback, I am delighted that the 09.17 Southern service has now left 'hopeful' and arrived at 'resolution'. Yes, an end really is in sight for the terrible industrial relations afflicting Southern Rail.

Having met, alongside Amber Rudd MP, all of the bidders for the Rail franchise currently held by Southeastern, our attention now turns to the train manufacturers who could help deliver a faster and better rail experience to the area.