Asked by: David Davis (Conservative - Goole and Pocklington)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential effect the commitment to tender new trains on the TransPennine and Northern Rail franchises might have on (a) journey times and (b) number of services at (i) Cottingham, (ii) Ferriby, (iii) Brough, (iv) Wressle, (v) Broomfleet, (vi) Gilberdyke, (vii) Saltmarshe, (viii) Eastrington and (ix) Howden railway stations.
Answered by Claire Perry
The impacts on journey times, capacity and train service of new and modern trains on the Northern and TransPennine Express franchises are being considered as part of the development of the specifications for those franchises. The outcome of this work will be reflected in the Invitations to Tender for both franchises, which we expect to publish in the New Year. We expect that the rolling stock to be used and where it is deployed will be a matter for bidders for both franchises to address in their bids.
Asked by: David Davis (Conservative - Goole and Pocklington)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the new franchise agreement for the East Coast Main Line on (a) Hull trains and (b) other open access operators in addition to their current track-access arrangements.
Answered by Claire Perry
The Invitation to Tender for the new InterCity East Coast franchise required bidders to demonstrate how their services would fit in alongside the current levels of Open Access operations. The new franchise with Inter City Railways Ltd does not include any new services to Hull and services to Sunderland operate at times that are complimentary to the current Grand Central services. As such there is not expected to be any impact on the current levels of Open Access operations from this franchise.
Asked by: David Davis (Conservative - Goole and Pocklington)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, to and from which destinations there will be a reduction in the number of daily services as a result of the new franchise agreement for the East Coast Main Line.
Answered by Claire Perry
The Department has contracted a minimum level of service to all destinations which is broadly at today’s level, with the franchisee having flexibility to operate services in addition to this. There are also several notable enhancements to the current level of service at destinations such as Bradford Forster Square, Harrogate, Shipley, York, Newcastle and Edinburgh. Stations such as Thornaby, Middlesbrough, Dewsbury, Huddersfield and Sunderland will receive InterCity East Coast services for the first time.
In one year, the number of daily services at Stevenage is a marginal reduction from the current level. This is in one direction (to London) and is only temporary prior to the introduction of new rolling stock.
Asked by: David Davis (Conservative - Goole and Pocklington)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the new franchise agreement for the East Coast Main Line on plans to electrify the railway from Selby to Hull.
Answered by Claire Perry
The new InterCity East Coast franchise will have no effect on plans to electrify the railway from Selby to Hull. The new Intercity Express train fleet that will be deployed on the franchise is flexible and includes bi-mode trains that are capable of operating on both Overhead Line electrified routes or on diesel traction where electrification is not available.
Asked by: David Davis (Conservative - Goole and Pocklington)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the new franchise agreement for the East Coast Main Line on services to (a) Howden, (b) Brough and (c) other stations on the Selby to Hull line.
Answered by Claire Perry
The new InterCity East Coast franchise will maintain the current level of service on the Selby to Hull line.