Wera Hobhouse served as the Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Transport in the last Parliament. She regularly raises issues about rail infrastructure, passenger experience, and industry reform.
Wera has a particular interest in decarbonising the railway, and improving its performance. The Bath MP has put forward amendments, spearheaded campaigns, and contributed to rich transport discourse since her election in 2017.
Service reliability
Great Western Railway (GWR)
Great Western Railway (GWR) services trains to and from Bath. Wera has raised concerns about persistent delays and cancellations on lines overseen by the operator. Data indicates that delay repay claims with GWR more than doubled between November 2022 and November 2023.
Commuters also face some of the highest fares in the region, with the journey between Bath and Bristol once cited as among the most expensive per mile globally.
Sunday services
The unreliability of Sunday rail services has also recently come into the spotlight. This is partly due operators relying on rest day working agreements for driver shifts. The new Labour government has expressed an interest in reforming these arrangements. Wera consequently asked the Secretary of State what the changes will mean for her constituents.
Compensation inconsistencies
She notes that compensation methods vary: some companies grant automatic refunds, while others require complex claim forms. Wera has warned that high fares combined with unreliable trains risk pushing more people onto roads.
Rail infrastructure
Large-Scale infrastructure projects
The High Speed 2 (HS2) project has sparked extensive debate. Cost overruns and amended routes are among the key concerns of the project.
In Parliament, Wera Hobhouse highlighted the importance of delivering promised improvements to boost connectivity across the country. She noted the need for a long-term strategy.
Wera also urged the government to prioritise reliable high-speed links and integrate them with existing networks. She recognises that increasing rail connectivity has the potential to reduce emissions.
The Bath MP consistently sheds light on the need for improved rail links to help reduce travel not only by car, but by HGVs too.
Growing rail freight capacity has attracted cross-party support, including from Wera Hobhouse.
Wera co-hosted a Parliamentary reception on the topic last year. Here, she showcased the potential for freight to cut road congestion and lower emissions. Industry reports suggest each freight train can remove up to 76 lorries from roads [1].
Rail Partners’ analysis shows the sector contributes over £2.45 billion a year to the UK economy. Most of these benefits are set to accrue outside of London and the South East [2]. Freight operators are calling for long-term certainty, including sustained investment in tracks and terminals. Wera acknowledges that increased freight capacity aligns with broader decarbonisation goals and could create new opportunities for regional growth.
Rail electrification
Diesel consumption by trains increased by 4% from April 2023 to April 2024 (Office of Rail and Road) [4]. Meanwhile, just 38% of the UK’s rail network is electrified (Flaig, 2024)[5].
House of Commons Library data commissioned by her office showed that between 2015 and 2022, the nation only once met its annual electrification target of 448 km.
Wera has consistently called to improve rail electrification to reduce carbon emissions across the network.
Speaking during an urgent question to the Transport Minister on December 7 2023, Wera said:
“Upgrades to our trains must include electrification, but electrification is at a standstill, with only 101 miles of track being electrified this year.”
She then pressed for a definitive timetable to electrify more of the UK’s rail network.
Legislative Work
In Parliament, Hobhouse has supported amendments to the Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Act. The Act is set to bring more rail services under public ownership, improve accountability and service quality. Amendments supported by Wera aimed to improve accountability and passenger experience.
The proposals included requiring annual reports that examine how new public sector contracts affect fare structures, compensation schemes, and season ticket consistency.
Wera has emphasised transparency, calling for clearer ticket pricing systems to help travellers find the best value. The amendments also addressed compensation rules, suggesting unified “delay repay” processes across all operators.
Another focus involved exploring how devolved authorities such as Transport for London or local combined authorities might operate certain services.
Station staffing
Plans to close 1,007 ticket offices in England attracted widespread attention in 2023. Wera expressed concern about how this could affect older people, disabled passengers, and those unfamiliar with app-based ticketing.
She consequently launched a petition, which constituents could sign if they were in favour of keeping ticket offices open.
Around a quarter of rail stations have step-free access and just 2% support level boarding [3]. In light of these figures, Wera has underlined the need to make stations more accessible.
She supports faster delivery of ramps, lifts, and tactile paving. Wera has also backed calls for operators like Great Western Railway to better assist disabled passengers, particularly in rural or underfunded stations.
The Bath MP argues that efficient booking systems and in-person help should be standard, ensuring that everyone can travel confidently by train.
Getting back on track
The coming years are set to prove decisive for the UK railway’s reliability, connectivity and emissions. Wera’s work in Parliament covers multiple facets of the UK’s rail network. Her efforts reflect ongoing conversations concerning infrastructure demands, passenger expectations, and environmental targets.
The Bath MP plans to keep advocating for the improvement of rail services, from large-scale projects, to local services.
FAQs
In 2024, more than 360,000 trains were delayed or cancelled. These delays, cancellations, high fares, ageing infrastructure, and limited electrification are some of the key issues facing rail travel in the UK
Rail electrification decreases the network’s reliance on diesel, reducing carbon emissions in turn. Currently, only 38% of the UK rail network is electrified, and diesel consumption increased by 4% from 2023 to 2024, highlighting the need for faster upgrades.
Rail freight helps reduce road congestion and lower emissions. Each freight train can remove up to 76 lorries from roads. [1] This can help cut pollution and ease traffic. The freight sector also contributes over £2.45 billion annually to the UK economy. [2]
In 2023, there were proposals to close 1,007 ticket offices in England. Concerns were raised about the impact on older people, disabled passengers, and those unfamiliar with digital ticketing. The plans to close the ticket offices have since been scrapped.
Rail fares in the UK are the highest in Europe. They are 2.5x higher than the average European ticket price.
Around a quarter of rail stations have step-free access and that 2% support level boarding. In addition, 1 in 5 pre-booked requests for travel assistance were not delivered. [3]
Issues such as reliance on rest-day working agreements and outdated infrastructure have contributed to service disruptions. Inconsistent accessibility for disabled passengers across the network also creates an unreliable service for some users.
