Asked by: Lord Carrington of Fulham (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what finance they are providing, or planning to provide, directly or indirectly, to the scheme to partially demolish Liverpool Street Station and to build a tower over it and the Grade II listed former Great Eastern Hotel.
Answered by Lord Davies of Gower - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The design, build and construction of the scheme will be funded by the partnership between Sellar and MTR. There are proposals for a new lift and making improvements to the gateline at Liverpool Street Station, however this essential work is being undertaken now ahead of the redevelopment plans and does not form part of the wider scheme.
Asked by: Lord Carrington of Fulham (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they or Network Rail will own the tower which is proposed to be built over Liverpool Street Station; and whether it is proposed that the ownership of the tower will remain in the public sector.
Answered by Lord Davies of Gower - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The proposed office building as part of the redevelopment of Liverpool Street Station will be owned and managed by the partnership between Sellar and MTR. The remainder of the station will continue to be owned and managed by Network Rail, including the retail area.
Asked by: Lord Carrington of Fulham (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether Network Rail has requested Government funding for the proposed redevelopment of Liverpool Street Station, in particular for (1) additional lifts and escalators, and (2) the enlargement of the first-floor mezzanine level, to provide a separate route through the station on a different level to the gate line of ticket barriers.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Department for Transport has provided over £11m to increase station capacity and improve passenger experience at Liverpool Street station. The scheme will provide an additional 21 ticket gates and rationalise station office and retail spaces, allowing passengers to move more easily through the station.
Asked by: Lord Carrington of Fulham (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have made an assessment of the impact of the full opening of the Elizabeth Line on passenger interchange numbers at Liverpool Street Station; and if so, what impact is expected.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
DfT and TfL have jointly commissioned a study to provide early evidence of the transport impacts of the Elizabeth line. As part of this, we are looking at ticketing data to assess demand on specific routes through the network. We expect to publish initial findings in 2024.
Asked by: Lord Carrington of Fulham (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the total income that has been generated by Network Rail's estate at Liverpool Street station over each of the past five years.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Department for Transport does not hold this information; we would suggest addressing this query directly to Network Rail.
Asked by: Lord Carrington of Fulham (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they require Network Rail to maximise income generation at each site within its estate, regardless of heritage or other impacts; and if so, whether they will publish that policy.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
There is no such policy. Network Rail is a publicly funded body, subject to Managing Public Money guidance on public spending and private finance and is held to account by The Office of Rail and Road (ORR). The ORR determines how much money Network Rail needs to run the business efficiently and to deliver the infrastructure for the UK and Scottish Governments. Business plans across the regions and its estate focus on delivering a better experience for passengers and customers. Where projects with a strong commercial case can attract private investment to deliver a better railway, this allows public funding to be invested in other areas of the network. Network Rail follows all guidance and regulations to ensure such partnerships are fully compliant with rules governing public bodies, as set out in its Framework Agreement with the Department for Transport.
Asked by: Lord Carrington of Fulham (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have guidance in place preventing Network Rail from using the proceeds resulting from developing those parts of its estate with little or no heritage impact to fund high-cost improvements at sensitive heritage locations.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
Any money that Network Rail makes from its property estate is reinvested into the overall running costs of the network and isn't ring fenced. Network Rail’s funding settlement targets them with generating improved returns from the estate which means they need less funding from Government to run the railway. As well as the commercial return the development proposals also focus on supporting a better experience for passengers and customers and are designed for each individual location and its specific needs.
Asked by: Lord Carrington of Fulham (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what guidance applies to Network Rail entering into contracts with private companies to develop publicly owned assets for private profit; and whether a public tender for contracts is required.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
Network Rail is subject to the Government's Managing Public Money Guidance on use of private finance and to public procurement rules.
Asked by: Lord Carrington of Fulham (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what funding they make available to Network Rail for upgrades to railway termini essential for (1) accessibility, and (2) public safety.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
Accessibility and public safety are central to all investment projects at termini stations. The Department for Transport sees accessibility improvements across the network as a priority and is continuing to invest significant sums to ensure accessibility to the network is improved for all users. The DfT supported Access for All programme, launched in 2006, has provided step free, accessible routes at over 200 stations and smaller scale access improvements at 1500 more. We are currently assessing over 300 stations nominated for the next tranche of Access for All projects. The Department expects the industry to comply with all relevant accessibility and safety standards whenever work is carried out.