Asked by: Lord Moylan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport on 21 October (HC34372), what plans they have to support the expansion of open-access passenger rail services where sufficient network capacity exists; and what assessment they have made of the impact of the Railways Bill on the ability of new open-access operators to enter the market.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Government supports Open Access where there is available capacity and it provides benefits for passengers and taxpayers. The Railways Bill will ensure that Great British Railways will be responsible for making best use of the railway, ensuring that capacity is fully utilised for the benefit of passengers and rail users. This will include assessment of new Open Access applications. Where such proposals represent best use they can expect to be granted capacity on the railway.
Asked by: Lord Moylan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of corrosion-related defects on the availability of Class 150 and Class 156 rolling stock operated by Northern Trains; and how many units remain unavailable for passenger service as a result of those defects.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Northern has introduced a rolling programme of maintenance to manage corrosion-related defects affecting parts of its Class 15X fleets.
As this is a rolling programme, the numbers of trains undergoing continued service operation works changes, but as of 30 October 2026 this was: four Class 150; one Class 155; four Class 156; and one Class 158.
Northern is talking to other operators and rolling stock owning companies to identify any suitable rolling stock that could be cascaded to provide additional capacity or replace trains that have reached the end of their lives.
Asked by: Lord Moylan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many additional diesel multiple unit trains Northern Trains expects to receive from other operators in (1) 2026, and (2) 2027; and how many of those units are expected to be allocated to services on the Clitheroe to Manchester line.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Northern is in continuing discussions with other operators and rolling stock owning companies about rolling stock that may become available as part of its work to improve fleet capacity and replace ageing trains. It will announce any new trains acquired as these are confirmed.
On 8 October 2026, Northern announced it was leasing 37 Class 350 electric trains to replace its Class 323 fleet and enhance the passenger experience on its electric routes around Manchester.
Where any additional stock is used is an operational matter for Northern, based on the demands on its services and the capacity of its depots and staff.
Asked by: Lord Moylan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what was the total remuneration paid to the Chair of Shadow Great British Railways during their tenure from October 2024 to March 2026; and what activities and responsibilities they undertook during that period.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
From October 2024 to March 2026, the total cost, including travel and subsistence, was £102,600. This provided good value, including insights and challenge that led to more integrated regional leadership and action to improve the railway and passenger experience, providing a sound basis for Great British Railways.
The new Chair of Great British Railways will be paid £250,000 per annum. This salary reflects the size and complexity of GBR, bringing together workstreams currently split across more than 17 different organisations, including Network Rail, DFT Operator and the Train Operating Companies. This role will additionally replace the current NR and DFTO Chair roles in due course, saving hundreds of thousands of pounds in salaries for the taxpayer by combining two posts.
Asked by: Lord Moylan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what are the total outstanding financial liabilities of rolling stock leasing companies operating in Great Britain.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Government does not hold a consolidated figure for the total financial liabilities of rolling stock leasing companies operating in Great Britain. Rolling Stock Companies are privately owned commercial entities and publish information about their financial position through company accounts and other statutory financial disclosures.
Asked by: Lord Moylan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what responsibilities they intend (1) Great British Railways, and (2) Greater Manchester Combined Authority, to have for (a) setting fares, (b) specifying service levels, and (c) holding operators to account for local rail services integrated into the Bee Network.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Government and rail industry is working closely in partnership with Greater Manchester to support the integration of local rail into the Bee Network. Services will be operated by Great British Railways (GBR). We are having continuing conversations regarding the funding and specification of local GBR services.
We aim to balance greater local influence while maintaining GBR's responsibility for delivery as part of the nationally integrated railway. The detailed arrangements, including the respective responsibilities for setting fares, service specification and accountability, are being developed with Greater Manchester and the rail industry.
Asked by: Lord Moylan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to require motorway service stations to display their current fuel prices in a manner visible to motorists before they exit the motorway.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Government has no plans to require motorway service areas to display fuel prices on signage along the carriageway.
However, the Government has implemented an open data scheme for fuel prices, called Fuel Finder, which requires all petrol stations in the UK to report their prices. This is expected to save the average household an additional £40, through making it easier to shop around for fuel.
Asked by: Lord Moylan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many reported road traffic collisions involved a driver who was driving on a foreign driving licence that was valid for use in the UK in each of the last five years.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The information requested is not held by the Department for Transport.
Asked by: Lord Moylan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government, for each of the last five years, how many street works reinstatements there are that (1) fail inspection, and (2) require remedial works both within and after the statutory guarantee period; and what estimate they have made of the cost to highways authorities of remedial works undertaken after that period has expired.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Department’s Street Manager digital service enables local authorities to record, monitor and co-ordinate street works, including inspections. As use of the service is not mandatory for all types of works, the Department does not hold complete data on the number of inspections that fail.
The Department has not made an estimate of the cost to highway authorities of remedial works undertaken after the statutory guarantee period has expired.
Asked by: Lord Moylan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government when they expect passenger rail services to run between Oxford and Bletchley serving the new station at Winslow.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Government recognises how important the first stage of East West Rail is to communities and passengers along the route, and we are working closely with industry partners to support the introduction of passenger services as soon as possible.