At the general election, millions of people demanded change, not just in how the country is governed, but how it works.
For too many people, basic services like getting a dentist appointment or catching a bus have not been working.
That is why this Government has already started the work of rebuilding Britain, and with five transport Bills in the Kings Speech, this is at the heart of our plans.
Last week the new Government put forward its first Bill: to start the process of reforming rail franchising and to bring train operators into public ownership – but most importantly, to put passengers at the heart of the rail service.
Our railways are the lifeblood of this nation, essential for ensuring reliable, affordable, and accessible transport for millions of Britons, but after decades of failed privatisation, it has become abundantly clear that Britain's railways are, quite frankly, broken.
According to the Office of Rail and Road, passenger satisfaction remains dismally low, and fares have skyrocketed by more than 40 per cent since the late 1990s, making it increasingly difficult for ordinary people to depend on our railway services.
Bringing our railways back into public ownership, bringing track and train together, will ensure they serve the public good rather than prioritise private profit.
But for us in Mid Cheshire this is just the start of the journey, not the end.
Mid Cheshire is intersected by more than 22 miles of railway, criss-crossing the constituency, and providing vital connections to Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham and beyond.
But despite our massive potential, we continue to be held back by infrequent services, unattractive journey times and repeated cancellations.
In a deliberately timed announcement, sneaked out by the last Government during the General Election, Northwich missed out yet again on resolving our longstanding accessibility issues at the station.
Accessibility is far too often overlooked, and I’m pleased that in the plans announced for Great British Railways, it will be one of the key measures by which it is held to account.
Getting a functional and accessible rail network is key to our prosperity in Mid Cheshire, and I won’t stop fighting to get the service we deserve.
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