Justin Tomlinson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Justin Tomlinson on 2016-09-14.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make it his policy to establish a body with the remit of ensuring that the rights of public transport users are protected.

Paul Maynard

The Government remains committed to safeguarding the interests of public transport users, doing so (in addition to the work of the DfT) primarily through the following three bodies:

• The Office of Rail and Road, which protects rail passenger rights through licensing train operating companies and enforcing consumer protection law in the rail sector.
• Transport Focus is responsible for representing the interests of Britain’s rail passengers as well as those of bus, coach and tram passengers in England (outside of London).
• London TravelWatch, which is funded by the London Assembly, performs a similar role to that of Transport Focus for passengers in London.

The Government remains open-minded to considering any alternatives as to how these arrangements could be further improved in the future.