Asked by: Lord Soames of Fletching (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he plans to publish the report by Chris Gibb on the Southern rail franchise and the Government's response to that report.
Answered by Paul Maynard
The Chris Gibb report was published by the Department for Transport on 22 June 2017. The report is now available on the GOV.UK website along with the Secretary of State’s response.
Please see links provided:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/southern-rail-network-gibb-report
SoS response link: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/gibb-report-on-southern-rail-network-government-response
Asked by: Lord Soames of Fletching (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what investment and improvements he plans to make to the London to East Grinstead line; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Paul Maynard
In January this year £300 million was announced to boost resilience of mainline infrastructure on the Southern and Thameslink rail networks. The multi-million pound package of works will be delivered by Network Rail, who have made an initial assessment of delay hotspots. Work is expected to be completed by December 2018.
Asked by: Lord Soames of Fletching (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what investment and improvements he is planning on the London to Brighton line; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Paul Maynard
The Government published the London South Coast Rail Corridor Study on 2 March 2017, which underlines the need for longer-term investment in capacity and performance improvements on the Brighton Mainline. We are continuing to work with Network Rail to define funding needs and a programme for future activity.
In addition, the Government has committed £300m to increase targeted maintenance and improve performance on Southern and Thameslink routes, including the Brighton Mainline, with works expected to be completed by Network Rail by December 2018.
Asked by: Lord Soames of Fletching (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to ensure that the collection of litter takes place on the A23 from Crawley to Brighton; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by John Hayes
In April, the Government released the ‘Litter Strategy for England’[1], outlining an initiative to identify and target the 25 top litter ‘hotspots’ on the strategic road network and establishing a working group on roadside litter. This includes representatives from local councils, Highways England, road users and others, to explore and understand the practical barriers to keeping all our roadsides clear of litter, and to help identify and promote best-practice in roadside litter prevention.
Litter collection on the A23 between Crawley and Brighton is the responsibility of Mid Sussex District Council and Brighton & Hove City Council. They have an obligation to ensure litter is collected. Nevertheless, Highways England is engaging with local authorities, including these Councils, on a more collaborative approach to litter clearance.
This builds upon Highways England’s work, as operator of the strategic road network, in sending out a four-weekly programme to notify local authorities of their routine maintenance works on trunk roads, which can help councils to coordinate their litter collections.
[1] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/litter-strategy-for-england