Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what is her department's current estimated cost of completing the Northern Powerhouse rail project.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
We are fully committed to delivering Northern Powerhouse Rail and know the importance of getting this right. We want to learn the lessons from HS2 and so are taking the time to consider the details, which will include costs. We will set out our ambitions in the near future.
Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether Northern Powerhouse Rail remains designated as an 'England and Wales' project.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Northern Powerhouse Rail project is classified as an England and Wales project. This approach applies to investment in heavy rail by the Department for Transport, including HS2 and East-West Rail, and is consistent with the funding arrangements for all other policy areas reserved in Wales as set out in the Statement of Funding Policy.
Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what formal representation (a) Welsh Ministers and (b) Transport for Wales will have in the governance structure of Great British Railways.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
There will be a statutory requirement for Welsh Ministers and the Secretary of State to agree a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
The contents of this MoU have been outlined in Written Ministerial Statements by the Secretary of State for Transport in the UK Parliament and Ken Skates, Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales, in the Senedd, accompanying the Railways Bill. These statements reinforce our commitment to collaborative governance, outlining shared ministerial intentions across areas such as track and train integration, cross-border service oversight, and the establishment of a dedicated GBR Wales and Borders Business Unit.
The final MoU will be published in due course as committed to within the Bill.
Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will commission an independent assessment of the financial and operational implications of fully devolving rail infrastructure and services to the Welsh Government.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The UK and Welsh Governments are focussed on transformation of the rail sector, modernising and improving rail services and delivering a more integrated, accountable, and passenger-focused railway.
As part of the wider rail reform agenda, and through continued collaborative working, we will be confirming devolved responsibilities, funding arrangements, and joint governance mechanisms, thereby strengthening accountability in the delivery of rail services across the Wales and Borders area.
A joint Memorandum of Understanding is expected to be published in Spring 2026 and will be supported by a partnership agreement between Great British Railways and Transport for Wales. This will ensure we are working towards jointly agreed shared objectives for Wales and Borders rail services and UK services serving destinations in the Wales and Borders geography.
Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, for what reason Welsh Ministers do not have the same statutory powers as Scottish Ministers to produce a High Level Output Specification for rail infrastructure.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
As set out in the Secretary of State’s Written Statement to Parliament on 5 November, UK Government and Welsh Ministers are committed to modernising and improving rail services and delivering a more integrated, accountable, and passenger-focused railway in Wales that respects the current devolution settlement.
Welsh Ministers will be statutory consultees on the England and Wales Statement of Objectives, and a formal Memorandum of Understanding, which is expected to be published in Spring 2026, will codify devolved responsibilities, funding arrangements, and joint governance mechanisms. This will strengthen accountability in the delivery of all rail services across the Wales and Borders geography.
This Memorandum of Understanding will include our joint intention for shared objectives and control period / funding period planning, and a dedicated, empowered Business Unit within Great British Railways (GBR) that will deliver against those shared objectives.
Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate his Department has made of the total rail enhancement planned to spent in Wales to 2040.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
In June 2025 the Chancellor announced investment plans covering the period from 2026/27 to 2029/30. For this period £350 million has been allocated to rail enhancements in Wales.
The Chancellor also confirmed that a further allocation of at least £95 million would be made in future years. The total amount of rail enhancement funding to be allocated up to 2040 will be confirmed at future Spending Reviews
Plans for rail investment in Wales will be made in close consultation with the Welsh Government. The Wales Rail Board has been established to provide joint strategic direction for schemes in Wales, with representation from the Department for Transport, the Wales Office, Network Rail, the Welsh Government and Transport for Wales. It will be consulted ahead of the next Spending Review so that Wales’s long-term rail infrastructure needs continue to be recognised.
Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, will the Government will make it its policy fully devolve heavy rail policy to Wales.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department for Transport and the Welsh Government have been working collaboratively on the approach to rail reform in Wales, building on recent progress with devolution of the Core Valley Lines and the announcement at the Spending Review that at least £445m will be made available to enhance the railway in Wales.
As announced on 5 November, a joint Memorandum of Understanding is expected to be published in Spring 2026 and will be supported by a partnership agreement between Great British Railways and Transport for Wales. This will ensure we are working towards jointly agreed shared objectives for Wales and Borders rail services and UK services serving destinations in the Wales and Borders geography.
This Memorandum of Understanding will set out the intended working arrangements between the two governments for the management of rail infrastructure in Wales.
Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what per-capita level of rail enhancement funding has been allocated to Wales for Control Period 7.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Rail enhancement funding is determined via Spending Reviews rather than Control Period based settlements. In June 2025 the Chancellor announced investment plans covering the period from 2026/27 to 2029/30.
For this period £350 million has been allocated to rail enhancements in Wales, with a further commitment of at least £95 million to continue delivering Wales’ long term infrastructure needs. Based on the most recent Office for National Statistics figure for the population of Wales (mid-year estimate 30 June 2024), this total represents a per-capita value of £139.65.
Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she will review the Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations which limiting local authorities ability to offer paid seats on non-compliant vehicles with more than 22 seats for school transport.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations 2000 (PSVAR) set minimum accessibility standards for physical features on buses and coaches designed to carry over twenty-two passengers and used on local or scheduled services. Introduced to help disabled people, including children and young people to travel safely and in reasonable comfort, the Regulations have applied to certain home-to-school (HTS) services for 25 years. In recognition of the shortfall of compliant vehicles and to enable essential services to keep operating, including HTS where spare capacity is sold, the Department has offered medium-term exemptions. These exemptions are due to expire on 31 July 2026.
In 2023 the previous Government began a review of PSVAR, including inviting feedback from local authority commissioners, providers and users of transport services, through a Call for Evidence, with a view to understanding the extent to which the Regulations remained appropriate and continued to serve disabled passengers. We continue to consider the Review findings and potential future action, and we will announce any next steps on PSVAR in due course.
Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of building a second Severn Tunnel or bridge specifically for rail services.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The strategic planning functions within Network Rail and Transport for Wales are considering the future capacity requirements of the South Wales Mainline. Their advice will be provided to the Wales Rail Board to inform the prioritisation of the government’s investment in Welsh rail services. Initial findings indicate that predicted future growth of services can be met through incremental upgrade of existing infrastructure.