Fares, rail policy and DfT news

Andrew Jones returns as rail minister following Jo Johnson’s resignation

Andrew Jones, MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, has been appointed as transport minister with responsibility for rail following the resignation of transport minister Jo Johnson last week.

Jones has previously held the role of transport minister in the DfT from May 2015 to June 2017.

The previous rail minister, Jesse Norman MP, has been promoted to transport minister.

Members of the public and politicians reacted on Twitter:

Those visits by DfT Ministers Chris Grayling and Nusrat Ghani to Harrogate’s electric buses have paid off. Now its MP Andrew Jones has been appointed Junior Minister for Transport - one of the few northern based Ministers in the Government. @harrogatebus

— Will Tucker (@wmtucker) November 13, 2018

Deckchairs. Sinking ship pic.twitter.com/7toAL4lTEg

— Andrew Adonis (@Andrew_Adonis) November 13, 2018

Tobyn Hughes, managing director of Nexus and chair of the Urban Transport Group, said: “We welcome the appointment of Andrew Jones as rail minister.

“This comes at a crucial time for the rail industry, as the government conducts its ‘root and branch’ review into the country's railways.

“Our network of cities had an excellent working relationship with Andrew Jones when he was previously a transport minister and he understands the rail issues that city regions face. We look forward to working with him once again and continuing to make the case for greater devolution of our rail networks so that they bring widespread benefits to the passengers and communities which they serve.”

Top image: Liam McBurney via PA Archive/PA Images

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