Asked by: Clive Betts (Labour - Sheffield South East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has made an assessment of the potential financial merits of including in the Hope Valley improvement scheme an increase in express trains from Sheffield to Manchester from 2 to 4 trains an hour.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Marylebone
The Department’s value for money assessment includes assumptions about the financial merits of increasing the number of fast trains on this route. This assessment will need to be refreshed as part of taking forward further work on this scheme. Decisions about future franchise changes will be assessed on their merits as part of this further work.
Asked by: Clive Betts (Labour - Sheffield South East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has made an assessment of the effect of the Hope Valley line improvement scheme on economic growth in the area.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Marylebone
On 13 February 2018, the Secretary of State announced his decision to provide Network Rail Infrastructure Limited with the legal powers to construct, operate and maintain new passing facilities and associated railway infrastructure on the Hope Valley route between Bamford and Hathersage and at Dore. The Department’s value for money assessment guidance includes guidance for the assessment of benefits to the economy.
Asked by: Clive Betts (Labour - Sheffield South East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to ensure that all rolling stock on Midland Mainline is compliant with disability discrimination legislation by 2020.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Marylebone
It is the responsibility of the operator of the East Midlands franchise to ensure the trains which are currently operated on the Midland Mainline meet modern accessibility standards by 2020. Any trains being introduced on to the line must also be built or modified to be compliant with those standards.
Asked by: Clive Betts (Labour - Sheffield South East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the timetable is for the announcement of the new franchise for the Midland Mainline.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Marylebone
The announcement of the winning bidder for the next East Midlands franchise is due in Spring 2019, with the new franchise due to start in August 2019.
Asked by: Clive Betts (Labour - Sheffield South East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the timetable is for the publication of the results of the 2016 public enquiry into the Hope Valley line improvements.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The decision to provide Network Rail Infrastructure Limited with the legal powers to construct, operate and maintain new passing facilities and associated railway infrastructure on the Hope Valley route between Bamford and Hathersage and at Dore was issued on 13 February 2018. A copy of the decision letter and the Inspector’s report, following the public Inquiry, can be found at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/twa-inspector-reports-and-decision-letters.
Asked by: Clive Betts (Labour - Sheffield South East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the timetable is for Network Rail's design work on the improvements to the Hope Valley line be concluded.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Marylebone
On 13 February 2018, the Secretary of State announced his decision to provide Network Rail Infrastructure Limited with the legal powers to construct, operate and maintain new passing facilities and associated railway infrastructure on the Hope Valley route between Bamford and Hathersage and at Dore. Network Rail have completed the single option design for the railway infrastructure scheme proposed in the Hope Valley and, following last week’s decision, the timetable for further work on this scheme will be announced in due course.
Asked by: Clive Betts (Labour - Sheffield South East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the timetable is for new rolling stock to be introduced on the Midland Mainline.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Marylebone
It will be for the bidders to determine their fleet strategy to meet the requirements of the Invitation to Tender when it is issued.
Asked by: Clive Betts (Labour - Sheffield South East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the timetable is for hybrid trains to begin running on the Midland Mainline.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Marylebone
It will be for the bidders to determine their fleet strategy to meet the requirements of the Invitation to Tender when it is issued. However, these bi-mode trains will improve journeys sooner, without the need for wires and masts on the whole route, and with less disruptive engineering works for passengers. Customers will also benefit from the wider upgrade to the Midland Mainline, which includes line speed improvements to reduce journey times.
Asked by: Clive Betts (Labour - Sheffield South East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the surface of the improved road connection between Sheffield and Manchester as proposed by Transport for the North will be constructed using all weather materials.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The Trans-Pennine Tunnel Study will, as part of its brief, consider the potential standard of the road link (motorway, expressway, all-purpose road). The Study is at an early stage, and matters of detailed design have not been fully developed. However, any design will be expected to take account of the climatic conditions prevailing in the Peak District.
Asked by: Clive Betts (Labour - Sheffield South East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will take steps to ensure that all rolling stock on the Midland Mainline will be compliant with disability discrimination legislation by 2020.
Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
It is the responsibility for the operator of the East Midlands franchise to ensure the trains which are currently operated on the Midland Mainline meet modern accessibility standards by 2020. Any trains being introduced on to the line must also be built or modified to be compliant with those standards.