Select Committee · Transport Committee

Minimum service levels for rail

Status: Closed Opened: 9 Feb 2023 Closed: 4 Dec 2023 1 recommendation 1 conclusion 1 report

The Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill is currently working its way through Parliament. If passed, the Bill would allow the Secretary of State to make regulations setting out the minimum level of rail services required during industrial action. The Transport Committee plans to examine the process by which those service levels will be defined in … Show more

Reports

1 report

Title	HC No.	Published	Items	Response
Eighth Report - Minimum service levels for rail	HC 1153	22 Sep 2023	2	Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

2 items

2 Recommendation Eighth Report - Minimum service levels … Not Addressed

Consult widely on the chosen minimum service level model and implementation plan for rail.

At present, the lack of detail from the Department about what a minimum service level specification might look like is preventing stakeholders from being able to assess how it will affect them or those they represent. Once the Department has determined which model of minimum service level it plans to … Read more

Government response AI summary

The government's response explains the design of MSLs and mentions past consultation with the ORR. It does not commit to consulting on the determined model with a wide range of stakeholders or setting out an implementation plan as recommended.

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Department for Transport

3 Conclusion Eighth Report - Minimum service levels … Not Addressed

Utilise specific criteria to measure the success of minimum service levels for rail, including passenger satisfaction.

Looking to the future, the following criteria should be used by the Department to assess the success of a minimum service level for rail (Paragraph 74): 30 Minimum service levels for rail j) Industrial disputes have neither been prolonged nor increased. Novel industrial action has not proliferated; k) Passenger satisfaction … Read more

Government response AI summary

The government's response details the design and flexibility of the minimum service levels (MSLs). It does not, however, address the committee's recommendation to use specific criteria for assessing the success of MSLs.

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Department for Transport

Oral evidence sessions

3 sessions

Date	Witnesses
24 May 2023	Ben Smith · Department for Transport, Huw Merriman · Department for Transport, Jake Kelly · Network Rail, John Larkinson · Office of Rail and Road	View ↗
26 Apr 2023	Jamie Burles · Abellio Greater Anglia, Mick Lynch · National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers (RMT), Mick Whelan · ASLEF, Rob Jenks · TSSA, Tom Joyner · Cross Country Trains	View ↗
22 Mar 2023	Anthony Smith · Transport Focus, Kate Nicholls OBE · UKHospitality, Phil Smart · Rail Freight Group	View ↗

Who gave evidence

12 witnesses

Witness	Organisation	Sessions
Anthony Smith · Chief Executive	Transport Focus	1
Ben Smith · Director of Industrial Action	Department for Transport	1
Huw Merriman · Minister of State for Rail	Department for Transport	1
Jake Kelly · Group Director for System Operator	Network Rail	1
Jamie Burles · Managing Director	Abellio Greater Anglia	1
John Larkinson · CEO	Office of Rail and Road	1
Kate Nicholls OBE · Chief Executive	UKHospitality	1
Mick Lynch · General Secretary	National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers (RMT)	1
Mick Whelan · General Secretary	ASLEF	1
Phil Smart · Assistant Policy Manager	Rail Freight Group	1
Rob Jenks · Policy Officer	TSSA	1
Tom Joyner · Managing Director	Cross Country Trains	1

Correspondence

4 letters

Date	Direction	Title
19 Sep 2023	—	Correspondence from the Minister of State for Rail, Department for Transport, r…
6 Sep 2023	—	Correspondence from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for …
19 Apr 2023	—	Correspondence from the Chief Executive, Transport Focus, relating to minimum s…
1 Mar 2023	—	Correspondence from the Minister for Rail, relating to minimum service levels, …