Asked by: Alex Mayer (Labour - Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of Network Rail’s progress on delivering the train control systems framework announced on 10 April 2024.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Network Rail awarded its Train Control Systems Framework in April 2024 covering major signalling activities for the period 2024-2034.
Development contracts for digital signalling have been awarded are in delivery, with completion forecast in Financial Year 2027/28.
The ORR undertakes assurance of Network Rail’s signalling renewals delivery as part of its regulatory monitoring role.
Annual assessments of Network Rail | Office of Rail and Road
Asked by: Alex Mayer (Labour - Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, on what date her department granted consent for the upgrade programme of South Western Railway’s Salisbury depot based 30 Class 158/159 trains; and what is her assessment of the (a) cost, (b) value for money of this overhaul work and (c) the life expiry date of these trains.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
South Western Railway (SWR) are currently undertaking scheduled heavy maintenance of their Class 158/159 fleet. This essential programme involves the full strip down, inspection and repair of the units, alongside enhancements to the onboard environment including refreshed interiors, new seat covers, repainting and the installation of at seat power which will improve the customer experience.
SWR have not submitted any specific request for Departmental consent for this upgrade programme as they are responsible for planning and delivering their own maintenance and any associated upgrade activity within their existing budgets.
SWR’s transfer into public ownership on 25 May 2025 marked an important step in our work to rebuild a railway that consistently delivers for passengers. As a publicly owned operator, SWR is now subject to rigorous and bespoke performance standards, and their dedicated teams work hard to ensure that maintenance and customer focused improvements support safe operation, improved reliability and better outcomes for the communities they serve.
The Department typically assumes that rolling stock has an operational life of around 35–40 years, although the precise lifespan is determined by the rolling stock market based on condition, investment and operational needs.
Asked by: Alex Mayer (Labour - Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has had discussions with the Office of Rail and Road on the application of a risk-based approach to the provision of new pedestrian and cycle level crossings on heritage railways in instances where such crossings (a) are necessary to maintain network permeability and (b) have a demonstrable safety record.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) do not support the creation of new level crossings where there is a reasonably practicable alternative such as a bridge or tunnel. These alternatives should be fully explored and delivered where it is reasonably practicable to do so and after ensuring the proposer has the legal right to cross the railway. In all cases where a new crossing is proposed, a risk assessment approach must be followed so that the costs and benefits of alternatives can be considered alongside the costs and benefits of a level crossing.
Asked by: Alex Mayer (Labour - Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when she plans to determine the geographical make up of GBR's Business Units will be determined.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Business Units will be the powerhouse of Great British Railways (GBR), bringing together today’s infrastructure management functions provided by Network Rail, and passenger operations currently led by train operating companies, into a single local team with an accountable leader.
Integrated railway pilots are introducing a single accountable leader for track and train, supported by an integrated executive team within existing frameworks. This is already in place for South-Eastern and South-Western Railway with plans underway for Anglia. These pilots will inform GBR's future Business Unit model.
The detailed design process is underway, including determining the geographic make-up of GBR’s Business Units.
Asked by: Alex Mayer (Labour - Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, which local transport authorities did not provide road condition data for at least one road type from the last 2 years; and what steps are being taken to ensure they can provide full data in future.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Official statistics on the condition of local roads in England in are published annually Road conditions in England to March 2024 - GOV.UK. Where information was not provided the Department for Transport (DfT) this is denoted in the relevant tables. Local authorities were also required to provide information on road condition as part of the local highway's maintenance transparency report published on local authority websites Highway maintenance funding: guidance for local authorities - GOV.UK.
The Government has confirmed a record £7.3 billion investment into local highways maintenance from 2026/27 to 2029/30. As was the case in the 2025/26 financial year, a portion of this funding will be designated as incentive funding. This funding will be subject to local highway authorities demonstrating that they comply with best practice in highways maintenance, for example by spending all the Department for Transport’s capital grant on highways maintenance and adopting more preventative maintenance. All incentive funding will be withheld if reports are not published.
On 11 January, the Department published a new traffic light rating system for every local highway authority. Under this system, all local highway authorities in England received a red, amber or green rating based on the condition of their roads, how effectively they spend their record Government funding, and whether they do so using best practice. The Department also published an interactive map which means residents can see how their authority is performing and allow the Government to target support to those who need extra help.
Asked by: Alex Mayer (Labour - Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has assessed the potential impact of motorcycle crash notification systems on (a) emergency service response times and (b) the number of motorcyclist (A) casualties and (B) fatalities.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
On 7 January 2026, we published our new Road Safety Strategy, setting out our vision for a safer future on our roads for all. The Strategy is an opportunity to reflect on the changes and challenges faced by motorcycle riders and the government has announced a consultation on an ambitious package of reforms to the training, testing and licensing regime for Category A moped and motorcycle licences in Great Britain.
While there is no mandatory requirement for motorcycles to be fitted with collision notification systems, aftermarket products exist that are promoted as being compatible with motorcycle riding.
Asked by: Alex Mayer (Labour - Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the likely effectiveness of Network Rail’s asset renewal programme in Control Period 7 between 2024 and 2029; and what estimate she has made of the level of depreciation of Network Rail’s assets between 2024 and 2029.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Network Rail updates its Delivery Plan each year of the Control Period. As forecast at the start of CP7 we expect to see an increase in the average age of railway assets by the end of the Control Period. The impact of this, measured using the Composite Sustainability Index, was estimated in the year 2 update to Network Rail’s Delivery Plan to be a 2.6% reduction in asset sustainability. Depreciation of the value of the railway network up to 2029 is forecast to remain broadly consistent with about 1.8% annually, as set out in the Department for Transport’s 2024/25 Annual Report and Accounts.
Asked by: Alex Mayer (Labour - Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what (a) assessment and (b) estimate she has made of the differential in her Department’s Capital Departmental Expenditure Limit budget in the (i) Spending Review and (ii) Autumn Budget 2025 in each year between 2024-25 and 2029-30.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Spending Review 2025 established allocations of Capital Departmental Expenditure Limits (DEL) up to financial year 2029-30, with further spending announcements made during Autumn Budget 2025. A profile of these spending limits is enclosed in the table below.
CDEL £m | 2025/26 | 2026/27 | 2027/28 | 2028/29 | 2029/30 |
SR25 Control Total | 21,565 | 22,904 | 23,176 | 22,741 | 23,940 |
AB25 | |||||
Net Changes at AB25 | 50 | 100 | 1646 | -10 | 420 |
New Control Total | 21,615 | 23,004 | 24,822 | 22,731 | 24,360 |
*CDEL is adjusted for TfL Business Rates Retention (£1.2bn p.a. from 2026-27).
Capital spending limits in future years and how they are allocated are subject to departmental business planning processes. Furthermore, the department will provide more detail on future spending plans at the appropriate Supply Estimate.
Asked by: Alex Mayer (Labour - Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what (a) assessment and (b) estimate she has made of the differential in her Department’s Resource Departmental Expenditure Limit budget in the (i) Spending Review and (ii) Autumn Budget 2025 in each year between 2024-25 and 2029-30.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Spending Review 2025 established allocations of Resource Departmental Expenditure Limits (DEL) up to financial year 2028-29, with further spending announcements made during Autumn Budget 2025. A profile of these spending limits is enclosed in the table below.
RDEL £m | 2025/26 | 2026/27 | 2027/28 | 2028/29 |
Control Total | 8,291.0 | 8,118.7 | 7,671.5 | 7,509.5 |
Changes at AB25 | ||||
Net changes at AB25 | - | 131.5 | 138.6 | 109.5 |
New Control Total | 8,291.0 | 8,250.200 | 7,810.100 | 7,618.953 |
Spending limits for 2029-30, as well as how Resource Spending Limits are allocated are subject to business planning processes. Furthermore, the department will provide more detail on future spending plans at the appropriate Supply Estimate.
Asked by: Alex Mayer (Labour - Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has assessed the potential impact of eCall on (a) response times and (b) the (i) number and (ii) severity of road traffic (A) casualties and (B) fatalities in each of the last five years.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
A pre-legislation appraisal of eCall was conducted in 2013. The report is available on gov.uk at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ecall-uk-cost-benefit-analysis