This month, I am spending my time visiting the railway across England and Wales to showcase its heritage, the investment we are bringing to create new chapters and the staff and volunteers who build, maintain and run it. I’m also stopping by on our rail supply chain, who manufacture and export products to railways abroad and help deliver new railways across the globe.

In two years’ time, we will be celebrating the 200th anniversary of the inaugural journey of George and Robert Stephenson’s Locomotive No1 on the Stockton and Darlington Railway. This is the birth of not only our own modern railway network but the world’s railway. It’s the greenest way for people and goods to travel on. One freight train will take 129 HGV movements off our roads.

My own summer railway journey started in Anglesey, North Wales, and I will work my way back to the constituency before I head back off to Derbyshire, Yorkshire and Lancashire next week and head from East Sussex to Cornwall the week after.

One of the projects I’ve just visited before writing this column on the train, is an Access for All station delivery. This programme provides lifts and other modifications, turning the station step-free. For those who have disabilities or very young children, this makes their local station accessible to use. We have delivered almost 200 of these step-free stations. It was good to see another being delivered. We currently have another 300 stations which are applying for the next round of funding. We’ve also just audited our 2,000+ railway stations to see how we can make further changes to benefit passengers. Over 1500 of these stations have already been enhanced. Whilst short of full step-free accessibility, the changes will make it easier for everyone to use.

I’m very passionate about ensuring that passengers get the best help and support at our railway stations. This is at the heart of proposals to change the way we staff stations. With just 10% of transactions taking place at a traditional booking office, down from one third just ten years ago, plans are afoot to ensure that staff can spend time at parts of the station where all passengers will need them. This should help with alternative ticket purchase, information, assistance and reassurance.

Whilst 99% of transactions are available online or at ticket machines, it is recognised that some may need more help to purchase. This is why the train operators are holding a consultation to ensure that the changes will deliver benefits. Where the proposals lead to not just redeployment but reductions in hours of staff, this will be carefully scrutinised by Transport Focus, who will act for passengers in these station-by-station changes. I’ve met with many disability and accessibility groups to ensure that we work with them and use their expertise to help those where change may be harder to follow.

Whilst we can all be nostalgic for the railways and its past, I have to ensure it moves with the times and how customers transact. I also have to ensure it is efficient, given we only have 70% of the finances generated from rail compared to before COVID resulting from changes to work patterns. You, the taxpayer, foot the remainder of the bill and I have a duty to ensure this is well spent. Residents with concerns or ideas should respond to the consultation (the train operators have extended the date for you to do so).

I recognise that it has been a long time since we had an update on Northeye. I am expecting an announcement from Government as to the future model. I have been working hard to ensure it addresses the key objection brought to me by residents in the area. I am having to be patient with the update and I am aware that this is difficult for those impacted. I will bring news as soon as I am able.

Whilst I am spending my weekdays on the railway, I will be back to the constituency each weekend. Let’s hope, wherever we may be, that the sunshine returns for those who live in, and visit, our great country.