Asked by: Lord Jones (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government (1) how much they have spent to date, and (2) how much they plan to spend, on the improvements to the Crewe–Holyhead rail line.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The North Wales Mainline has benefitted from investment as part of recent record funding settlements for Network Rail’s Wales Route. £50m has been spent on improving the signalling system and track layout, together with improvements to Abergele and Pensarn station. The cases for further improvements to journey times on the line, and for improvements at Chester and Shotton stations are currently being developed and will be considered for funding based on their merits.
Asked by: Lord Jones (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many Independent Rail Retailers there are.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Department for Transport does not license Independent Rail Retailers, that is the responsibility of Rail Delivery Group.
Asked by: Lord Jones (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their policy concerning the third party sale of rail tickets.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
We value the expertise and innovation independent retailers have brought, and will continue to bring, to the sector and we welcome them competing in the ticket retail market, particularly where they can grow new markets.
Asked by: Lord Jones (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to ensure cross-border rail routes benefit from the Government's investment in HS2.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
As planned, HS2 trains will run directly to Scotland via a connection to the West Coast Main Line south of Preston, reducing journey times and improving reliability for rail services between England and Scotland.
The Department for Transport has been working with Transport Scotland, HS2 Ltd and Network Rail to identify further options for improvements to cross-border routes, which could further reduce journey times, ease congestion, and create jobs, investment opportunities, and environmental and economic benefits for the whole of Scotland.
For North Wales, the plans would see passengers benefitting from an HS2 interchange at Crewe, with shorter journey times to London, Birmingham, the towns and cities of the Midlands and the Thames Valley area via Old Oak Common and elsewhere.
In August 2019 the Prime Minister asked Doug Oakervee to chair an independent review of HS2 to provide advice on how and whether to proceed. The Government will set out the next steps for High Speed 2 in due course.
Asked by: Lord Jones (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government when they estimate that HS2 will reach and serve Crewe.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
Crewe will be served by Phase 2a of HS2. The advice from Allan Cook in his HS2 Ltd Chairman’s Stocktake Report, published in September 2019, indicated that a phased opening of Phase One between 2028 and 2031 is possible, with Phase 2a being delivered to the same schedule as Phase One.
As part of the Terms of Reference, the Oakervee Review has considered whether the schedule for HS2 is realistic, including the advice from Allan Cook. The Government has made clear its intention to publish the Review’s final report and will set out the next steps for HS2 in due course, including Phase 2a and hence when Crewe will be served by HS2.
Asked by: Lord Jones (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their estimate of the benefits of HS2 to the Crewe-Chester-Holyhead rail route; and when such potential benefits will be realised.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
Plans would see passengers benefitting from an HS2 interchange at Crewe, with shorter journey times, including to London, Birmingham, the towns and cities of the Midlands and other communities across the UK. The HS2 interchange at Crewe will improve connectivity with places on the Crewe-Chester-Holyhead rail route.
In August 2019 the government commissioned the independent Oakervee Review to provide advice on whether and how to proceed with HS2. The Government will make a decision on HS2 shortly.