Asked by: Catherine McKinnell (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to tackle the effects of the east coast main line reducing from four tracks to two north of Northallerton.
Answered by Andrew Jones
The East Coast Main Line has always reduced to two tracks at Northallerton where a line branches off towards Eaglescliffe. The East Coast Main Line Enhancement Programme will maximise the capacity available from the two tracks that continue to run north of Northallerton. Building on that starting point, the Northern Powerhouse Rail Strategic Outline Business Case presents proposals to increase track capacity to Newcastle. The Department is working with Transport for the North to refine these proposals and identify a single preferred concept.
Asked by: Catherine McKinnell (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 23 April 2019 to Question 243447 on the East Coast Railway Line, through which Government Department Members of Parliament can hold Network Rail accountable for its performance.
Answered by Andrew Jones
The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) regulate Network Rail, holding it to account for delivering high levels of performance and service, as well as good value for money – for passengers, the freight industry and taxpayers. The ORR are accountable to Parliament and the public.
The Secretary of State sets the high-level strategy for Network Rail, though Network Rail retains a high degree of autonomy in how it meets the aims of that strategy. The Secretary of State of Transport is accountable to Parliament for the activities and performance of Network Rail.
Asked by: Catherine McKinnell (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to ensure that the new Azuma rolling stock runs under electric traction rather than diesel on sections of the East Coast Main Line that are currently electrified using overhead wires.
Answered by Andrew Jones
The Department of Transport is working together with Network Rail and the operator, to ensure the Azuma fleet will run under electric traction where the infrastructure enables it.
Asked by: Catherine McKinnell (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to ensure that the Azuma rolling stock can run at full line speed on the East Coast Main Line; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Andrew Jones
The Department for Transport is working with the rail industry to deliver the full benefits of the Azuma fleet; including increased capacity, improved reliability and more frequent services. We are investing in an Enhancements Programme to upgrade the route and Network Rail is planning to introduce an upgraded timetable that allows London North Eastern Railway to run more services by the end of 2021. Azumas are able to operate at full line speed across the East Coast Main Line, however temporary restrictions may limit performance in limited geographic areas while the enhancement programme is underway.
Asked by: Catherine McKinnell (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if his Department will make an assessment of the extent to which operational performance delays on the East Coast Main Line are caused by ageing infrastructure; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Andrew Jones
Network Rail as the infrastructure manager is best placed to make an assessment of the extent to which operational performance delays on the East Coast Main Line are caused by ageing infrastructure.
Asked by: Catherine McKinnell (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if his Department will carry out an economic impact assessment of the effect of delays on the East Coast Main Line between York and Newcastle.
Answered by Andrew Jones
Transport for the North is developing a Strategic Programme Outline Case for the East Coast to Scotland Strategic Development Corridor. This report will assess the economic impact of improving transport links between York and Newcastle and the Department looks forward to its publication later this year.
Asked by: Catherine McKinnell (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the grant funding that will be allocated to the Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive in each year up to 2025; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Jesse Norman
In the 2017 Autumn Budget, the Chancellor announced a £337m direct grant to deliver a new fleet of trains for the Tyne and Wear Metro.
Nexus also currently receive a £250,000 Rail Administration Grant and £400,000 for the Sunderland Decrement Payment on an annual basis.
Any further funding would be a matter for the forthcoming cross-government Spending Review, conducted by HM Treasury. This applies to all similar grant applications across the country.
Asked by: Catherine McKinnell (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the allocation of additional funding for the Tyne and Wear Metro to enable it to (a) continue to operate and (b) continue with infrastructure renewal after the current funding arrangement ends; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Jesse Norman
In the 2017 Autumn Budget, the Chancellor announced a £337m direct grant to deliver a new fleet of trains for the Tyne and Wear Metro.
Nexus also currently receive a £250,000 Rail Administration Grant and £400,000 for the Sunderland Decrement Payment on an annual basis.
Any further funding would be a matter for the forthcoming cross-government Spending Review, conducted by HM Treasury. This applies to all similar grant applications across the country.
Asked by: Catherine McKinnell (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to help improve (a) resilience, (b) capacity and (c) journey times on the East Coast Main Line between York and Newcastle; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Andrew Jones
The Department is investing up to £780m in Control Period 6 to upgrade the East Coast Main Line. In conjunction with the introduction of new fleets of trains for both London North Eastern Railway and TransPenninne Express, this will improve capacity and journey times along the length of the Line. The Department continues to work with Transport for the North to identify and assess further potential enhancements between York and Newcastle. The Statement of Funds Available that was announced on 12 October 2017 focusses on the operation, maintenance and renewal of the railway to improve reliability. Network Rail’s Strategic Business Plan 2019 to 2024 for the London North Eastern and East Midlands Route explains how this investment will be used to improve the resilience of the East Coast Main Line.
Asked by: Catherine McKinnell (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans his Department has to allocate funding to the East Coast Main Line in the Network Rail Control Periods CP6 and CP7; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Andrew Jones
The Prime Minister has announced Control Period 6 investment of up to £780m in the East Coast Main Line. This will fund power supply upgrades between Doncaster and Edinburgh, a new rail junction near Peterborough, a new platform at Stevenage Station and improvements to the track layout at King’s Cross Station. The Department is working with stakeholders, including Transport for the North, to identify and assess further potential enhancements for the East Coast Main Line. We will take staged decisions to progress further enhancements through the Rail Network Enhancement Pipeline process.