TRAVEL FACILITIES IN THE RAIL INDUSTRY

That this House acknowledges that train drivers who entered employment in the railways before 1 April 1996 are safeguarded and eligible for the full range of former British Rail travel facilities for themselves and their families; notes that those who entered the industry after 31 March 1996 are entitled to restricted facilities on an individual train operating company basis; is perplexed that a train driver from Spain or France is entitled to free travel across the UK rail network yet a British driver employed after 1996 is not; believes that all train drivers and their families, irrespective of service, should receive equal, free and improved travel facilities which may be multi-modal; and calls on the Secretary of State for Transport to urge the Association of Train Operating Companies to ensure a more equal and improved system of travel facilities provision is introduced forthwith.