Asked by: Gordon Marsden (Labour - Blackpool South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the letter of 29 June 2018 from the Minister of State for Transport to hon. Members, if he will publish (a) the full details of the marketing campaigns for tourism affected by rail disruptions in the Blackpool and Cumbria areas, (b) the date on which they will start and (c) who will operate them.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Marylebone
Transport for the North are working with Northern to develop details of the compensation package. This includes marketing campaigns for affected areas such as Blackpool and Cumbria and will be announced by Transport for the North or the Operator in due course, based on local prioritisation.
Asked by: Gordon Marsden (Labour - Blackpool South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Government plans to introduce significantly discounted bus and train travel for apprentices.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani
As per the Conservative manifesto commitment, the Government is clear that it does not want the costs of travel to deter young people from undertaking apprenticeships or training opportunities. Industry is launching a consultation on changes to rail fares, and we look forward to learning through this process and working with industry on these results.
The Department is also exploring options for bus travel concessions for apprentices, and is gathering more evidence on the practicability of a number of options.
Asked by: Gordon Marsden (Labour - Blackpool South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions his Department had with (a) Network Rail and (b) the Office of Rail and Road before the decision was taken to postpone the reopening of the railway line between Blackpool North and Preston for three weeks over Easter.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Marylebone
Department officials are in regular contact with Network Rail and the Office of Rail and Road. The need to extend the blockade was taken as a result of severe weather conditions combined with essential engineering equipment being unavailable at a critical time in order to ensure that the planned improvements could be completed in time for the May 2018 timetable.
Asked by: Gordon Marsden (Labour - Blackpool South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the consultation conducted by Network Rail with (a) Blackpool Council, (b) other local authorities and (c) Members of Parliament before the decision was taken to postpone the reopening of the railway line from Blackpool North to Preston for three weeks over Easter.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Marylebone
The Secretary of State for Transport did not make an assessment of this matter. The need to extend the blockade was taken as a result of severe weather conditions combined with essential engineering equipment being unavailable at a critical time in order to ensure that the planned improvements could be completed in time for the May 2018 timetable.
Asked by: Gordon Marsden (Labour - Blackpool South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the number of occasions in the past 12 months when Network Rail has extended agreed timetables to close railway lines for engineering works without consulting (a) local authorities and (b) local Members of Parliament.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Marylebone
My Department has not made any estimate of the number of occasions when Network Rail (NR) has extended agreed timetables to close railway lines for engineering works without consulting Local Authorities or Local MPs.
Asked by: Gordon Marsden (Labour - Blackpool South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions his Department had with (a) Network Rail and (b) Northern Rail before the announcement of the three-week postponement of the reopening of the railway line between Blackpool North and Preston on the economic consequences for Blackpool's tourist industry.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Marylebone
Department officials are in regular contact with Network Rail and Northern. The need to extend the blockade was taken as a result of severe weather conditions combined with essential engineering equipment being unavailable at a critical time in order to ensure that the planned improvements could be completed in time for the May 2018 timetable.
Asked by: Gordon Marsden (Labour - Blackpool South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions his Department has had with (a) Northern Rail and (b) Network Rail about the effect on residents and visitors to Blackpool of the decision to introduce weekend blockades on the railway line from Manchester to Preston in summer 2018.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Marylebone
Department officials are in regular contact with Network Rail and Northern. Upgrading the route between Manchester and Preston, via Bolton, is an integral part of the Great North Rail Project. Delivering this upgrade is complex, and the industry is working hard to limit the impact on services while changes are made and improvements delivered. The industry is being asked to do as much as possible to ensure passengers and communities are informed ahead of all disruption, and is working to deliver improved journeys as soon as possible.
Asked by: Gordon Marsden (Labour - Blackpool South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the implications of the collapse of Carillion plc on (a) the current rail electrification works between Blackpool and Preston and (b) the continuation of line improvements between Blackpool and Manchester.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Marylebone
My Rt Hon Friend the Secretary of State met with Network Rail yesterday morning and he received assurances that work would continue on Network Rail’s projects. My Rt Hon Friend was obviously concerned about workers on rail projects continuing to be paid and we and Network Rail are working with the official receiver and other stakeholders on that. Our aim is that key work and projects can be moved to other suppliers with minimal disruption, including to rail passengers.
Network Rail’s Manchester to Preston and Blackpool railway upgrades, a key part of the Great North Rail Project, are continuing. Note that Carillion were not directly involved with the Blackpool to Preston electrification.
Updates on the progress of specific projects will be provided where appropriate in due course.