• Question by: James Cleverly
• Meeting date: 20 June 2012

Thank you, Chair. I want to return, if you do not mind, to the greater involvement with surface rail. I am going to focus particularly on my constituents and the rail routes that run through that, but I think these are probably applicable to others as well. One of the concerns that has been I know raised is the concern that politicians, MPs and councillors have in Kent and other Home Counties, not so much that their constituents will be disadvantaged under your tenure as Mayor, but that if there was a change of political leadership here at City Hall...

• Question by: Tom Copley
• Meeting date: 20 June 2012

Do you think there need to be any alterations made to the currently safeguarded route?

• Question by: Roger Evans
• Meeting date: 20 June 2012

Thank you, Chair. Mr Mayor, residents in Havering, particularly the eastern part of Havering, are aggrieved that the toll on the Dartford Crossing has been extended beyond the time at which it was supposed to become free. In other words, they were promised they would be paying a toll to cross the river for a certain number of years and the Department for Transport has decided it will continue to apply the toll after that time. Just to add insult to injury, residents of Thurrock of Dartford get a discount for using the Crossing whereas London residents do not. Next...

• Question by: Tom Copley
• Meeting date: 20 June 2012

OK. Just finally - and this is one for Peter as well - if HS2 were to go ahead, have you explored any other options with regards to reducing congestion at Euston at all?

• Question by: Richard Tracey
• Meeting date: 20 June 2012

But you must find yourself frustrated when you look at what is possible for your counterpart in New York to achieve in stopping strikes and indeed in Paris, too.

• Question by: James Cleverly
• Meeting date: 20 June 2012

I am very supportive of your aspiration to take greater control of the Southeastern Overground rail network because quite obviously, just on the nearby quick trip to New Cross, you can see the massive improvement in services coming through that part of the London Overground line. Actually, one of the things that I am also very keen to explore is the opportunities for greater integration of different public transport modes in southeast London. At the moment, my constituents are disproportionately reliant on heavy rail and I would certainly be keen for you to explore greater integration with Docklands Light Railway...

• Question by: Richard Tracey
• Meeting date: 20 June 2012

Thank you. That is some very useful information for us to use in our ongoing lobbying to stop the minority bringing London to a halt. The second thing, Mr Mayor, and it has already been touched on, is your aspiration to have more control over the London regional rail network. Given that we understand that there are people particularly in Kent who are worried about how their fast trains would be stopping at more stations, can I suggest that it would be useful if TfL were to put out a model timetable --

• Question by: Caroline Pidgeon
• Meeting date: 20 June 2012

Following up on this issue of rail franchising, there are questions about persuading Government. My understanding is the Department for Transport, Government and MPs cross-party seem to be very resistant to the idea of TfL taking over some of these suburban franchises. So what will success look like for you at the end of your term? Is it just that you will have a bit more of a say over franchises that are let by Government, kind of what you already do, or is it going to be seeing TfL run a number of franchises such as Southeastern and West...

• Question by: Tom Copley
• Meeting date: 20 June 2012

When you are having your discussions with the Government, there are two options, really, that they have identified for Crossrail 2, one of which is a smaller scale metro option and the other is a more expensive regional option but with probably far more longer-term benefits. Are you pushing the Government for the more expensive version of this, which would deliver greater economic benefits in the long term to London?

• Question by: Richard Tracey
• Meeting date: 20 June 2012

You have just said one significant thing that I have not heard before and that is that the Commissioner himself is supportive of this line of policy. Perhaps we could have it on the record from Peter Hendy just how supportive he has because in our approaches to Government, whether it be the Prime Minister or other Cabinet Ministers, what the Commissioner for TfL might say about it would be rather important, I believe.