Asked by: David Evennett (Conservative - Bexleyheath and Crayford)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the timetable is for announcing the successful bidder of the South Eastern Rail Franchise.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris
Following the decision to cancel the South Eastern Franchise competition, the Department is developing a solution to deliver benefits to passengers as quickly as possible. In the immediate term, the Department is considering the most appropriate route to contract the franchise after 1 April 2020. This could be in the form of either another Direct Award with the incumbent operator, or the transfer of the franchise to the Operator of Last Resort. A decision, that puts passengers interests first, will be made in March.
Asked by: David Evennett (Conservative - Bexleyheath and Crayford)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the effect of delays to Crossrail on the viability of the Crossrail to Ebbsfleet infrastructure proposal.
Answered by Paul Maynard
The Department has not made any recent assessment of proposals for transport enhancements between Abbey Wood and Ebbsfleet as these remain under development.
Asked by: David Evennett (Conservative - Bexleyheath and Crayford)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions he has had with the Mayor of London on the further delays to Crossrail.
Answered by Paul Maynard
The Department for Transport has regular discussions with Transport for London and Crossrail Limited regarding the Crossrail project.
On 10 January 2020, Crossrail Limited issued its latest update on progress to complete the Elizabeth line and confirmed that it plans to open the central section between Paddington and Abbey Wood in summer 2021.
Although progress is being made, Crossrail Limited have been clear that risks and uncertainties remain across the programme. Crossrail Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of Transport for London.
Asked by: David Evennett (Conservative - Bexleyheath and Crayford)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent representations he has made to the Mayor of London on the date for the opening of Crossrail.
Answered by Grant Shapps
The Department for Transport has regular discussions with Transport for London and Crossrail Limited regarding the Crossrail project.
On 25 April 2019, the Crossrail Limited Board announced that it had completed a new plan to complete the outstanding works and bring the Elizabeth Line into passenger service at the earliest possible date.
As many risks and uncertainties remain in the development and testing of the train and signalling systems, Crossrail Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Transport for London, has identified a six-month delivery window with a midpoint at the end of 2020.
Asked by: David Evennett (Conservative - Bexleyheath and Crayford)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the level of air pollution caused by traffic congestion on (a) the A2, (b) Bob Dunn Way and (c) other roads approaching the M25 to cross the Dartford Crossing.
Answered by Michael Ellis
Highways England monitor air quality using specialist equipment installed on the Dartford Crossing and surrounding road network. The monthly data they produce forms part of Highways England’s annual Air Quality Management Plan. This informs their strategic assessments and policy.
Highways England do not have monitoring sites outside the Strategic Road Network in the area of the Crossing.
Highways England have also completed a Preliminary Environmental Assessment of the Lower Thames Crossing (LTC) project including modelling of air quality.
The results of the modelling suggest that following the opening of LTC there will be no perceptible change in pollutant concentrations along the A2 and on Bob Dunn Way. There would be small improvements in pollutant concentrations along A225, A296, A226, and A296. On the M25 corridor itself, there are predicted to be larger improvements in air pollutant concentrations due to a reduction in congestion.
As part of the Development Consent Order application for LTC, Highways England are preparing an Environmental Statement which will include a detailed air quality assessment, to identify the effects and any mitigation measures required. The results of this detailed assessment will be fully reported within the Environmental Statement.
Asked by: David Evennett (Conservative - Bexleyheath and Crayford)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent steps his Department has taken to reduce the duration of delays at the Dartford Crossing.
Answered by Michael Ellis
Highways England are working to deliver improvements to motorists’ journeys around the Dartford Crossing.
Work is nearly complete on the M25 Junction 2 scheme which has been designed to improve the traffic flows from the A2, through the junction and on the approach to the Dartford Crossing. Further junction improvements are also planned to the A2 at Bean and Ebbsfleet junctions. This includes a new bridge for southbound traffic at the Bean junction and a new slip road onto the A2 for eastbound traffic. Highways England will also widen the road that links the two roundabouts at Ebbsfleet junction. Work at these junctions is due to start in March 2020.
Highways England are also designing a scheme to improve A282 Junction 1a. The improvements include adding another lane on the link road between the two roundabouts at Littlebrook. This scheme will deliver benefits to the junction and help improve the flow of traffic on Bob Dunn Way.
A Dartford and Thurrock study has also been completed to identify solutions to reduce congestion which could be delivered in advance of the construction of the Lower Thames Crossing. Highways England is working with Kent County Council and Thurrock Council to fully review the findings.
Future plans for the new Lower Thames Crossing will provide an additional route across the Thames, significantly adding capacity to the road network.
Asked by: David Evennett (Conservative - Bexleyheath and Crayford)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department has taken to reduce delays on (a) the A2, (b) Bob Dunn Way and (c) other roads approaching the M25 to cross the Dartford Crossing.
Answered by Michael Ellis
Highways England are working to deliver improvements to motorists’ journeys around the Dartford Crossing.
Work is nearly complete on the M25 Junction 2 scheme which has been designed to improve the traffic flows from the A2, through the junction and on the approach to the Dartford Crossing. Further junction improvements are also planned to the A2 at Bean and Ebbsfleet junctions. This includes a new bridge for southbound traffic at the Bean junction and a new slip road onto the A2 for eastbound traffic. Highways England will also widen the road that links the two roundabouts at Ebbsfleet junction. Work at these junctions is due to start in March 2020.
Highways England are also designing a scheme to improve A282 Junction 1a. The improvements include adding another lane on the link road between the two roundabouts at Littlebrook. This scheme will deliver benefits to the junction and help improve the flow of traffic on Bob Dunn Way.
A Dartford and Thurrock study has also been completed to identify solutions to reduce congestion which could be delivered in advance of the construction of the Lower Thames Crossing. Highways England is working with Kent County Council and Thurrock Council to fully review the findings.
Future plans for the new Lower Thames Crossing will provide an additional route across the Thames, significantly adding capacity to the road network.