Asked by: Lord Blunkett (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 1 February (HL5019), whether there is now a revised date for concluding the works to be undertaken between Junctions 16 and 19 of the M1 motorway and fully re-opening the motorway.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The section of works between M1 junctions 16 near Northampton and 19 near Rugby will be completed as a smart motorway by the end of December 2017.
The entire M1 junctions 13 to 19 scheme will be completed within Highways England’s Delivery Plan target by 2021-2022.
Asked by: Lord Blunkett (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they expect junctions 16 to 19 of the M1 motorway to be fully operational.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Highways England expected junctions 16 to 19 of the M1 motorway to be fully operational as a smart motorway by the end of March 2017. However, it is likely this will now be delayed and a revised date will be advised in due course.
The overall M1 junctions 13 to 19 scheme will still be completed within Highways England’s Delivery Plan target of 2021-2022.
Asked by: Lord Blunkett (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government when the 50 mile per hour limit on the M1 between junctions 19 and 15 will be lifted, in the light of the fact that work there has been suspended.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Highways England reports that Junction 15 to 16: traffic management was lifted in September 2015 and Junction 16 to 19: traffic management will be lifted in stages. It will be completely removed by the end of November 2015.
Asked by: Lord Blunkett (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, following the accident on the M1 on 12 October, how long it took the Highways Agency to reopen junction 25 on the southbound carriageways, and how far north diversions were put in place.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Highways England report that the incident occurred around 2:15 am, with the carriageway fully reopened by 9:25 pm. Diversions were initially put in place from junction 25 of the M1, with traffic diverted onto the A52 westbound, the A5111 southbound, the A6 southbound and the A50 eastbound, to re-join the M1 at junction 24. Unfortunately, there was a second incident on the slip road of the M1 at junction 25, resulting in a lane being closed. This meant the M1 closure was extended further north to junction 26 until this incident was cleared.
Variable Message Signs were set prior to junction 38, in order to encourage drivers to divert via the A38. In addition, messages were displayed on the M62, A1(M), M18, A46, A52 and A38.
Asked by: Lord Blunkett (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when road improvements started on the M1 southbound carriageway near Wakefield; when he expects those roadworks to be completed; from what time in the day those roadworks are operable and traffic is diverted from all three carriageways; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by John Hayes
The M1 Junctions 39 to 42 smart motorway scheme started with enabling works in August 2013, and is expected to be fully complete by Winter 2015/16.
Between the hours of 06:00 and 20:00 there are three narrow lanes available in each direction with a 50mph speed limit enforced for the safety of road workers and road users.
On the occasions when the overnight work requires a full carriageway closure, such as gantry erections and bridge deck waterproofing, the carriageway is closed from 20:00 on the night of the closure until 06:00 at the latest the following morning. Full carriageway closures are advertised two weeks in advance on the Highways Agency website, through local press notices and on motorway variable message signs in the vicinity of the closure.
Asked by: Lord Blunkett (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 8 December 2014 to Question 216761, what assessment he has made of the effect on Northern Rail of Government plans for the TransPennine Express franchising process.
Answered by Claire Perry
The Northern and TransPennine Express franchises are being developed jointly. The potential impacts of one franchise on the other are being considered in this process. We expect to set out the Invitations to Tender for both competitions shortly.
Asked by: Lord Blunkett (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many children died or were injured travelling to or from school or college in the 11 months ending July 2014.
Answered by Robert Goodwill
The Department does not hold any information specifically on whether a child was travelling to or from school or college. Nor does the Department have full detailed records of casualties for accidents that have occurred in 2014 available. Data for 2014 will be available in June 2015.
The table below gives the number of children, split into pre-school children aged under 4, and school-aged children aged between 4 and 16 inclusive, who were killed or injured in reported road traffic accidents between 7.30 am and 8.59 am, or between 3.00 pm and 4.59 pm on a school day in 2013. The table does not include any accidents that occurred at the weekend or during school holidays. The school holidays used are those defined by the local education authority in which the accident occurred.
Reported child casualties in accidents occurring between 7.30 and 8.59 am, or between 3.00 and 4.59 pm on a school day, by age, severity and month, Great Britain: 2013
Aged between 4 and 16 inclusive | Aged under 4 | |||||
Killed | Seriously injured | Slightly injured | Killed | Seriously injured | Slightly injured | |
January | 0 | 56 | 386 | 0 | 0 | 30 |
February | 1 | 56 | 293 | 0 | 1 | 22 |
March | 1 | 77 | 406 | 1 | 4 | 28 |
April | 0 | 48 | 294 | 0 | 3 | 29 |
May | 1 | 48 | 359 | 0 | 3 | 23 |
June | 1 | 67 | 484 | 1 | 3 | 34 |
July | 0 | 52 | 344 | 0 | 4 | 18 |
August | 0 | 5 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
September | 3 | 86 | 498 | 0 | 5 | 40 |
October | 1 | 71 | 524 | 0 | 7 | 26 |
November | 1 | 69 | 501 | 0 | 4 | 26 |
December | 2 | 45 | 335 | 0 | 2 | 27 |
Asked by: Lord Blunkett (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 17 November 2014 to Question 213982, if he will redesign the specification for the new contracting commissioning programme to take account of future plans for upgrading and improving the existing offer to travellers on the TransPennine routes; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Claire Perry
The specifications for each franchise take into account future plans for upgrading and improving the network during the expected life of the new franchises. The Department for Transport also conducts public consultations when developing the specifications contained within the Invitations to Tender (ITTs) for each competition to ensure that they take account of other factors and reflect the needs of passengers. We have followed this approach for the current TransPennine Express franchise and expect to continue to do so for future competitions including those for any future TransPennine Express franchise, to ensure that franchises continue to deliver for passengers and taxpayers.
Asked by: Lord Blunkett (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to his Department's announcement of 26 October 2014 on a high speed rail link in the north, what plans the Government has to make revisions to current franchising proposals for transpennine rail services.
Answered by Robert Goodwill
The TransPennine Express (TPE) franchise specification is currently being finalised and will take into consideration Government policies, Rail North objectives and responses from the consultation held on the TPE and Northern franchises. While the timing of the franchise means it is unlikely to be directly affected by any high-speed rail routes in the north, the franchise is expected to reflect aspirations for faster and better connected journeys across the north of England.