Asked by: Feryal Clark (Labour - Enfield North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the average level of overcrowding is on (a) Govia Thameslink and (b) Great Northern Rail.
Answered by Huw Merriman
The level of crowding varies significantly by route, time of day and location on individual journeys and there is therefore not an overall average figure for crowding. Govia Thameslink and Great Northern Rail operates a demand led timetable and monitors passenger usage closely on a train-by-train basis. Service provision continues to be kept under review in response to demand and usage data.
Asked by: Feryal Clark (Labour - Enfield North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of closing train station ticket offices on passengers in Enfield North constituency.
Answered by Huw Merriman
We are now in a period where the independent passenger bodies (Transport Focus and London TravelWatch) are engaging with train operators on the basis of the consultation responses they have received and the criteria they have set out. We expect train operators, including Greater Anglia, who manage several stations in the Enfield North area, to work collaboratively with the passenger bodies in the coming weeks, to listen to the concerns raised and to refine their proposals accordingly.
When proposing major changes to ticket office opening hours, as set out in the Ticketing and Settlement Agreement, train operators are required to take into account the adequacy of the proposed alternatives in relation to the needs of passengers who are disabled, and to include this in the notice of the proposal sent to other operators and passenger groups. All operators prepared Equality Impact Assessments and published these on their websites.
Together with industry, we want to improve and modernise the passenger experience by moving staff out from ticket offices to provide more help and advice in customer focused roles. No currently staffed station should be unstaffed as a result of industry changes.
Asked by: Feryal Clark (Labour - Enfield North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions he has with the DVSA on the availability of practical driving tests in (a) Enfield North constituency, (b) the London Borough of Enfield and (c) London.
Answered by Richard Holden - Shadow Secretary of State for Transport
Details of Ministerial meetings with external organisations are published every quarter and this information can be accessed on the GOV.UK website via the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/dft-ministerial-gifts-hospitality-travel-and-meetings
Asked by: Feryal Clark (Labour - Enfield North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of closing train station ticket offices in Enfield North constituency on the (a) safety and (b) accessibility of passenger rail travel in (i) Enfield North constituency, (ii) the London Borough of Enfield and (iii) London.
Answered by Huw Merriman
The UK’s rail network is one of the safest in Europe and we will never compromise the safety of passengers on our railways. As the industry takes forward vital reforms, safety remains a top priority for all.
When proposing major changes to ticket office opening hours, including closures, operators are required to take into account the adequacy of the proposed alternatives in relation to the needs of all passengers; and to include this in the notice of the proposal sent to other operators and passenger groups. We would also expect operators to consider other equality related needs and make this clear in the notice sent to other operators and passenger groups.
Together with industry, we want to improve and modernise the passenger experience by moving staff out from ticket offices to provide more help and advice in customer focused roles. Following the consultations, the independent passenger bodies will play a vital role in assessing and shaping proposals.
Asked by: Feryal Clark (Labour - Enfield North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department is taking steps to support (a) Enfield Council and (b) other local authorities with preventing parking outside schools.
Answered by Richard Holden - Shadow Secretary of State for Transport
Around 98% of local authorities have the power to undertake civil parking enforcement, including Enfield Council. Local authorities with these powers can use CCTV cameras to enforce parking on a ‘Keep Clear’ zig-zag area outside a school.
London councils already have powers to civilly enforce moving traffic contraventions, including school street restrictions, which are signed using 'no motor vehicle' or 'pedestrian and cycle zone' signs. Since 31 May 2022, local authorities outside London have been able to apply to the Department to be granted the same powers, by Designation Order. Twelve authorities received the powers last year, and we have laid a second Order in Parliament which will come into force on 22nd July 2023 giving the powers to a further 40 authorities. The department is currently accepting applications for a third such Order.
Asked by: Feryal Clark (Labour - Enfield North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of transport links from (a) Enfield North constituency and (b) the London Borough of Enfield.
Answered by Richard Holden - Shadow Secretary of State for Transport
Transport in London is devolved and is the responsibility of the Mayor of London and Transport for London (TfL).
In terms of National Rail services operating in Enfield, the Department monitors rail punctuality closely. It continues to engage with Greater Anglia (GA), Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) and Network Rail. For the 2022-23 rail year, GA’s On Time performance on the West Anglia Main Line route which serves Enfield North was 82.1%. GTR’s performance was 87.3% at stations in the constituency. These figures are above the national average of 67.8% for the same period.
Asked by: Feryal Clark (Labour - Enfield North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has taken recent steps to help improve the punctuality of rail services in Enfield North constituency.
Answered by Huw Merriman
The Department monitors punctuality closely and continues to engage with Greater Anglia (GA), Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) and Network Rail to deliver reliable performance on the network. For the 2022-23 rail year, GA’s On Time performance on the West Anglia Main Line route which serves Enfield North was 82.1 per cent. GTR’s performance was 87.3 per cent at stations in the constituency. Both were above the national average of 67.8 per cent for the same period and I am encouraged by improvements in On Time performance across the network since December 2022.
Asked by: Feryal Clark (Labour - Enfield North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an estimate of the number of passengers who boarded a rail service from a rail station in Enfield North constituency in each of the last 12 months.
Answered by Huw Merriman
The Department does not hold records to that level of detail. The Office of Rail and Road produces annual estimates on the number of entries, exits and interchanges at each station across the network. It is expected that they will publish their figures for April 2022 to March 2023 in November of this year, whilst records for the rail year April 2021 to March 2022 and those prior can be found on the ORR website.
Asked by: Feryal Clark (Labour - Enfield North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many and what proportion of rail services that ran from train stations in Enfield North constituency were cancelled in the last 12 months.
Answered by Huw Merriman
The stations in Enfield North are served by a number of train operators. In the period May 2022 to May 2023, Greater Anglia had a cancellation rate of 1.6 per cent across the network and an average of 2.57 per cent on the route serving Waltham Cross, Enfield Lock and Brimsdown. Govia Thameslink Railway had levels of 5.9 per cent across the network and 5.7 per cent between Gordon Hill, Crews Hill and Enfield Chase.
Cancellations remain a priority for my Department, and I am encouraged by strong improvements in recent months, including the best cancellation rates since May 2021 in the most recent rail period of 30 April to 27 May 2023.
Asked by: Feryal Clark (Labour - Enfield North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has had recent discussions with the Mayor of London on the increased use of 20mph speed limits on roads in (a) Enfield North constituency and (b) the London Borough of Enfield.
Answered by Richard Holden - Shadow Secretary of State for Transport
The responsibility for managing London's road network is shared between Transport for London (TfL) and the London boroughs.