Asked by: Lord Mann (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to prevent suicides on the East Coast Main Line through Retford.
Answered by Paul Maynard
The Department is aware of the fatalities in the Retford area between 2014 – 2016 and recognises that each death by suicide on the railway is one too many. The rail industry has a significant work stream in place to prevent suicide on the network which brings together the Rail Delivery Group, Samaritans, the British Transport Police and the Department in a bid to reduce the risk of suicide on our railways.
Part of Network Rail’s suicide prevention escalation process is to alert local authorities where it is believed a cluster (as defined by Public Health England guidance) of suicides or attempted suicides are taking place. Network Rail is proactive in contacting the relevant local authority to ask about their suicide prevention work and how this can be supported.
Network Rail takes preventative measures including fencing on disused platforms, along with signage and training of staff.
In particular high risk areas, they also work with the local community to look for those who are vulnerable to suicide. It is important that the police, the wider rail industry, as well as other appropriate local stakeholders, should be involved in the development and implementation of local authorities suicide prevention plans, particularly in high-risk locations.
Asked by: Lord Mann (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment his Department has made of level crossing safety in Bassetlaw constituency.
Answered by Paul Maynard
Level Crossing safety is a matter for Network Rail as the primary duty holder. Network Rail has assessed Worksop Station Level Crossing on Carlton Road, risk ranked 84 out of 1,968 crossings on the London North Eastern and East Midlands Route, as the highest risk level crossing in the Bassetlaw constituency.
Asked by: Lord Mann (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if his Department will extend eligibility for the Blue Badge parking scheme to people diagnosed with dementia.
Answered by Andrew Jones
People with mental and cognitive conditions can already receive Blue Badges, but we are looking at how the scheme works for those with non-physical conditions in order to ensure it is fair and consistent. However, it would be inappropriate to extend eligibility on the basis of particular conditions as each person will be affected differently and have specific needs.
Asked by: Lord Mann (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many crossings across traffic are planned to be closed on the A1 (a) southbound and (b) northbound.
Answered by John Hayes
The current major works on the A1 from Leeming to Barton in North Yorkshire will result in six permanent gap closures. These gaps will be accessed via a new local road and alternative routes alongside the new motorway for the benefit of the local community. Access to the new motorway will be via a new junction at Catterick and an improved junction at Scotch Corner.
Over the next two months three, maintenance schemes will require temporary gap closures on the A1 at Highfields roundabout, near Berwick; between Lane Head to Old Swarland in Northumberland; and at Buckden (Brampton Rail Bridge) in Cambridgeshire. The affected gaps on the A1 will be re-opened on completion of their respective maintenance works.
Asked by: Lord Mann (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, which organisations his Department has formally consulted on the location of the proposed High Speed 2 station in South Yorkshire.
Answered by Andrew Jones
High Speed Two (HS2) Ltd carried out a public consultation on proposals for the HS2 Phase 2 route in 2013 on behalf of the Department for Transport. This contained the location of potential HS2 stations, including South Yorkshire.
Appendix A of the consultation summary report lists the organisations that responded to the consultation:
The Government will make an announcement on the HS2 Phase Two route, of which South Yorkshire is a part, later this year. A public consultation on the route in this area will be issued at the same time as the announcement.
Asked by: Lord Mann (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he has taken to ensure that high speed rail will interconnect effectively with the rest of the transport network.
Answered by Lord McLoughlin
HS2 will not be a separate, standalone railway. It will be an integrated part of a 21st Century transport network.
Through our interchange stations, classic compatible trains and exploitation of the released capacity we will deliver the integrated service that passengers need. Our work with local areas to implement Growth Strategies will ensure HS2 integrates with local transport networks.
Asked by: Lord Mann (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the connectivity of the proposed High Speed 2 station in South Yorkshire to other Sheffield city region train and bus stations.
Answered by Robert Goodwill
In March 2012 HS2 Ltd published Options for Phase Two of the High Speed Rail Network setting out the route and station options for Phase Two of HS2.This report sets out the connectivity proposals around the recommended South Yorkshire station at Meadowhall.
In addition to this local areas are aware of the unique opportunity that HS2 presents to deliver a step change in local growth on and around the route, and have developed plans to capitalise on this. These plans include the creation of integrated proposals for improved local and sub-regional connectivity to HS2.
Asked by: Lord Mann (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what upgrades are planned for Newmarket railway station.
Answered by Claire Perry
There are plans already in development to improve lighting at Newmarket station which will be undertaken in the early years of the new franchise due to start in October 2016.
For the new East Anglia franchise we have adopted a new stations policy. This requires a 40 year Stations Asset Management Plan along with a 10 year Station Social and Commercial Development Plan. This will ensure the bidders target the provision of services at stations according to the volume and needs of passengers at the individual station. We expect bidders to plan for investments to improve the station environment and facilities for passengers as part of a 40 year station strategy.
Theformation of a Station Social and Commercial Development Plan involves consulting with users and the local community on concerns, issues, opportunities and risks relating to individual stations and the priorities for investment.
Asked by: Lord Mann (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with Network Rail and Suffolk County Council on increasing the number of services stopping at Newmarket railway station.
Answered by Claire Perry
The Secretary of State has held no discussions with Network Rail and Suffolk County Council on increasing the number of services stopping at Newmarket station.
The issues of future passenger and freight demand, route capacity and service levels have been considered in Network Rail’s Anglia Route Study; and will be considered by the Department in future planning cycles.