Local Rail Services

Huw on commute

As a daily commuter to Parliament, the state of our railway personally impacts me as well so I want to assure constituents that I not only understand but I experience it too and have done so for the last fifteen years as a season-ticket holder.  

I have a real passion for rail. It regenerates areas, connects us with our nation and pushes new frontiers. Having spent 7 years on the Transport Select Committee, the last two as Chairman, I've had a great insight into rail. I appreciate the problems we face and the people who can address them.

I am delighted to have been appointed Minister of State at the Department for Transport by the Prime Minister, with responsibility for Rail and HS2 in October 2022. I look forward to the opportunities and challenges this new role brings and remain focussed on ensuring that rail services, both local and national, deliver for communities and business.

 

 

News

Summit signals progress towards High Speed

On Friday 6 October Amber Rudd MP’s fourth Hastings Rail Summit set out a clear plan to deliver high speed journey times between London St Pancras and Rye, Hastings and Bexhill. Attendees at the event, including constituents, members of the local business community and representatives of the area’s

Local MPs back proposals for better rail services

Local MPs, Huw Merriman and Amber Rudd, have backed proposals for more local rail services in their response to the GTR timetable consultation for 2018. As part of the 2018 timetable consultation for Southern Rail services, GTR submitted proposals to increase capacity and alleviate over-crowding be

Parliament hears of local road and rail needs

This week, I did my best to ensure that the needs of our local road and rail network were brought to Parliament and aired before the Road and Rail Ministers respectively.

Local MPs Welcome Southern Rail Improvement Report

Local MPs, Amber Rudd and Huw Merriman, this week welcomed the findings of an independent report delivered on the performance and future of Southern Rail. The report, produced by Chris Gibb, a rail expert with decades of industry experience, was commissioned by the Government with a mandate to pinp

Huw granted debate in Parliament on Southern Rail

Last week, I asked the Leader of the House of Commons, Andrea Leadsom, for Government time in the House of Commons to enable MPs and Ministers to debate the findings of the Gibb report on Southern Rail.

Initial Response to Gibb Report on Southern Rail

Last year, the Government commissioned Chris Gibb, a rail expert with decades of experience, to produce a review of the performance of Southern Rail. The aim of the report was to identify causes of performance failure and make recommendations to urgently improve the service.

MP calls for better rail compensation schemes for local passengers

Bexhill and Battle MP, Huw Merriman, pressed for better compensation schemes for Southeastern rail users during yesterday’s Transport Select Committee with Rail Minister, Paul Maynard MP. During the meeting on rail compensation, Huw asked the Minister whether the new bidders for the Southeastern Ra

Transport Select Committee: Southern Rail Visit

The Transport Select Committee today made a visit to Southern Rail to view the driver-only operated trains which have been at the centre of an industrial dispute between the train operator and train unions for almost a year.

MPs Express Regret Following Collapse of Southern Deal

Local MPs, Amber Rudd and Huw Merriman, have spoken of their regret following the decision by train drivers on Southern to reject a settlement which would have ended the long running industrial dispute. The offer, which was brokered and recommended for acceptance by the executive of the train drive