Asked by: Dan Poulter (Conservative - Central Suffolk and North Ipswich)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has for a Felixstowe to Nuneaton freight rail link; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Rail freight offers benefits for the environment, helps reduce road congestion and is important to UK businesses. The Williams Rail Review, currently underway, is considering how the rail industry can better respond to needs of the rail freight sector as it grows.
The Felixstowe to Nuneaton rail corridor (F2N) is a strategically important freight route. In Control Period 5 (2014-2019), £65m was invested in upgrading the Felixstowe Branch Line, including a significant private-sector contribution from the port. The extra capacity delivered on the branch line will support up to 10 additional trains per day in each direction to move goods to and from the Port of Felixstowe (although further enhancements will be required to realise this in full). This investment means that from December, up to 38 trains per day will be able to run in each direction.
In Control Period 6 (2019-2024), further funding is being made available to develop business cases for further freight enhancements on this vital corridor. Examples of F2N-related business cases under development include Haughley Junction redoubling, the Ely Area Capacity Enhancement, and Syston – Trent Junction enhancements (in Leicestershire).
Asked by: Dan Poulter (Conservative - Central Suffolk and North Ipswich)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many days the A14 Orwell Bridge has been closed in each year since 2000.
Answered by Michael Ellis
Year | Total Closures |
2015 (from 1 April) | 1 |
2016 | 2 |
2017 | 2 |
2018 | 6 |
2019 (to 30 June) | 2 |
The closure summary above is categorised as follows:
Year | High Winds | Suicide | Road Traffic Incident |
2015 (from 1 April) | 0 | 0 | 1 |
2016 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
2017 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
2018 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
2019 (to 30 June) | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Roadworks closures have not been included in the above summaries because of the way Highways England record roadworks data. Their records do not identify the Orwell Bridge as a specific section, nor do their records differentiate between a complete closure or a lane closure.
Asked by: Dan Poulter (Conservative - Central Suffolk and North Ipswich)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to support road improvements to the A12 between Ipswich and Lowestoft.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The Department is currently reviewing Suffolk County Council’s proposed A12 Suffolk Energy Gateway scheme and will announce its decision in due course.
The Department has also asked Transport for the East to provide it with advice later this year on its priority Major Road Network and Large Local Major schemes. Transport for the East can if desired include proposals for improvements to the A12 in this advice.
Asked by: Dan Poulter (Conservative - Central Suffolk and North Ipswich)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what protections there are to protect areas of outstanding natural beauty against new road building.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The National Networks National Policy Statement (NPS) sets out Government’s policies to deliver development of nationally significant infrastructure projects on the national road and rail networks in England. It is the basis for examination of schemes by an independent inspector and decisions by the Secretary of State.
As set out in the NPS, there is a strong presumption against any significant road widening or the building of new roads in Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), unless it can be shown there are compelling reasons for the new or enhanced capacity and with any benefits outweighing the costs significantly. AONB designated areas have a specific statutory purpose that helps ensure their continued protection and which the Secretary of State has a statutory duty to have regard to in decisions.
Further protections for AONB are set out in the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 and Defra’s English national parks and the broads: UK government vision and circular 2010 or successor documents.
Asked by: Dan Poulter (Conservative - Central Suffolk and North Ipswich)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the planned completion date is for road improvements to the A140 in Suffolk close to the Norfolk border; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Jesse Norman
Suffolk County Council was awarded £3.8 million of Government funding for improvements to the A140 at Eye. These improvements are due to be completed by 31 March 2020. The A140 is a local road and these improvements are the responsibility of Suffolk County Council.
Asked by: Dan Poulter (Conservative - Central Suffolk and North Ipswich)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to allocate funding from his Department to improvements to the A12 between Ipswich and Lowestoft.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The Department is considering a funding request to the Large Local Majors Fund from Suffolk County Council for a bypass of the A12 around the villages of (a) Marlesford, (b) Stratford St Andrew, (c) Farnham and (d) Little Glemham. The Department will announce a decision in due course on whether or not to provide funding for the scheme.
This stretch of the A12 between Ipswich and Lowestoft may be eligible to meet the objective criteria for inclusion on the proposed Major Road Network. If so, local authorities may bid for funding from the National Roads Fund, subject to any proposals meeting the usual business case and value for money requirements.
Asked by: Dan Poulter (Conservative - Central Suffolk and North Ipswich)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department plans to allocate funding for a bypass on the A12 north of Wickham Market around the villages of (a) Marlesford, (b) Stratford St Andrew, (c) Farnham and (d) Little Glemham.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The Department is considering a funding request to the Large Local Majors Fund from Suffolk County Council for a bypass of the A12 around the villages of (a) Marlesford, (b) Stratford St Andrew, (c) Farnham and (d) Little Glemham. The Department will announce a decision in due course on whether or not to provide funding for the scheme.
This stretch of the A12 between Ipswich and Lowestoft may be eligible to meet the objective criteria for inclusion on the proposed Major Road Network. If so, local authorities may bid for funding from the National Roads Fund, subject to any proposals meeting the usual business case and value for money requirements.
Asked by: Dan Poulter (Conservative - Central Suffolk and North Ipswich)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans his Department has for restoring a direct train service between Lowestoft and London Victoria via Ipswich.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Marylebone
Greater Anglia has a Franchise Agreement commitment to restore a direct train service between Lowestoft and London Liverpool Street via Ipswich. In line with this commitment, Greater Anglia are currently working with industry partners to secure the necessary access rights and approvals to secure the delivery of this direct service.
Asked by: Dan Poulter (Conservative - Central Suffolk and North Ipswich)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans are in place to ensure the timely delivery of the Felixstowe-to-Nuneaton freight rail link.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Marylebone
During Control Period 5 (2014-2019) Government is investing £235m in the Strategic Freight Network (SFN), a ring fenced fund specifically to support investment in rail freight to improve the capacity and capability of the network. This includes the installation of a second track between Felixstowe and Grimston Lane foot crossing on the Felixstowe branch line, which will allow up to 47 trains to serve the port daily in each direction, 14 more than at present.
In April 2017, Network Rail published its Freight Network Study, presenting options to funders for enhancing the rail freight network. The study identified the Felixstowe to West Midlands corridor as a key priority for future investment. The Statement of Funds Available for Control Period 6 (2019-2024) includes funding for continued investment in improvements to the rail freight network, and my Department will consider Network Rail’s advice when planning future enhancements.
Asked by: Dan Poulter (Conservative - Central Suffolk and North Ipswich)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether access for disabled people at Diss and Stowmarket stations will be a condition of the new franchise contract for the Eastern Main Line.
Answered by Claire Perry
We will expect bidders for the new franchise to take account of stakeholder aspirations and consider multiple ways to improve on the customers’ experience on the train and at stations.