Asked by: Ian C. Lucas (Labour - Wrexham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 11 January 2016 to Question 20950, which routes would offer greater benefits from the additional paths referred to in that answer than the proposal from Arriva Trains Wales.
Answered by Claire Perry
The successful bidder for the new Northern franchise has proposed new direct links between Manchester Airport and Bradford (via Rochdale, Halifax and the Calder Valley), and between Manchester Airport and Liverpool (via Warrington Central). It will be for the Office of Rail and Road to determine the allocation of scarce capacity to/from Manchester Airport between the competing potential uses.
Asked by: Ian C. Lucas (Labour - Wrexham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 5 January 2016 to Question 20298, if he will publish the letter the Department wrote to the Office of Rail and Road in connection with the application from Arriva Trains Wales for additional train paths to and from Manchester Airport.
Answered by Claire Perry
A copy of the letter is attached. Please note that names and details of officials below the level of Senior Civil Servant, and those of non-government officials, have been redacted.
Asked by: Ian C. Lucas (Labour - Wrexham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what representations his Department has made to the Office of Road and Rail on the allocation of rail paths to Manchester Airport in the last five years.
Answered by Andrew Jones
The Department has monthly trilateral (Department for Transport, Office of Rail and Road (ORR) and Network Rail) meetings in order to deliver the existing requirements of the current franchise agreements throughout the last 5 years, especially in connection with the bi-annual timetable changes.
Last month, the Department wrote to the ORR in connection with the application from Arriva Trains Wales (ATW) for additional train paths to and from Manchester Airport. The letter acknowledged that the ATW proposal offered passenger benefits but also noted that, on conclusion of the Northern and TPE franchise competitions, there were likely to be other competing pressures for train paths on the route between central Manchester and the Airport. The purpose of the letter was to draw ORR’s attention to the likelihood of such pressures emerging, and to observe that ATW’s application should be considered alongside the proposals from the successful Northern and TPE bidders to ensure that maximum passenger benefit is obtained from the train paths available.
Asked by: Ian C. Lucas (Labour - Wrexham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if his Department will estimate the number of passengers from North Wales and Cheshire who are projected to use Liverpool Airport in (a) 2015, (b) 2020 and (c) 2025.
Answered by Robert Goodwill
The last aviation forecasts made by the Department for Transport were produced in January 2013. These gave the following forecasts of passengers using Liverpool Airport who began or ended their journeys in North Wales or Cheshire in the central demand case:
(a) 2015 : 0.81 million
(b) 2020 : 0.78 million
(c) 2025 : 0.82 million.
Asked by: Ian C. Lucas (Labour - Wrexham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what response his Department has made to requests for more rail travel paths from North Wales to Manchester Airport.
Answered by Andrew Jones
The allocation of train paths is a matter for the independent Office of Road and Rail to decide, not the Department for Transport.
Asked by: Ian C. Lucas (Labour - Wrexham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent representations he has received on rail paths from North Wales to Manchester Airport.
Answered by Andrew Jones
We are aware that Arriva Trains Wales (ATW), and other operators, are seeking to introduce additional services to Manchester Airport; however, capacity through central Manchester and at the Airport is limited. Infrastructure investment to deliver the Northern Hub (including the recently-opened fourth platform at the Airport) will improve the situation, but there are more aspirations for direct services to the Airport than even the post-Hub infrastructure will be able to accommodate.
Please note that it is the Independent Office of Road and Rail which is responsible for the allocation of train paths and not the Department and it is therefore for the Office of Road and Rail to consider ATW’s application alongside other requests submitted for use of the limited available capacity for additional rail services to/from Manchester Airport.
Asked by: Ian C. Lucas (Labour - Wrexham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if his Department will estimate the number of passengers from North Wales and Cheshire who are projected to use Manchester Airport in (a) 2015, (b) 2020 and (c) 2025.
Answered by Robert Goodwill
The last aviation forecasts made by the Department for Transport were produced in January 2013. These gave the following forecasts of passengers using Manchester Airport who began or ended their journeys in North Wales or Cheshire in the central demand case:
(a) 2015 : 2.46 million
(b) 2020 : 2.74 million
(c) 2025 : 3.05 million
Asked by: Ian C. Lucas (Labour - Wrexham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate his Department has made of the number of passengers using Manchester Airport in (a) 2015, (b) 2020 and (c) 2025.
Answered by Robert Goodwill
The last aviation forecasts made by the Department for Transport were produced in January 2013. These gave the following forecasts of passengers using Manchester Airport for the central demand case:
(a) 2015 : 19.5 million
(b) 2020 : 22.1 million
(c) 2025 : 25.0 million
Asked by: Ian C. Lucas (Labour - Wrexham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if his Department will make a comparative assessment of rail links to (a) Cumbria and (b) North Wales from Manchester Airport.
Answered by Andrew Jones
We are aware that Arriva Trains Wales (ATW), and other operators, are seeking to operate additional services to Manchester Airport; however, capacity through central Manchester and at the Airport is limited, though infrastructure investment to deliver the Northern Hub (including the recently-opened fourth platform at the Airport) will improve this situation.
Please note that it is the Independent Office of Road and Rail which is responsible for the allocation of train paths and not the Department, and it is therefore for the Office of Road and Rail to consider ATW’s application alongside other potential uses of the limited available capacity for additional rail services to/from Manchester Airport. Detailed information regarding these rail links is publicly available.
Asked by: Ian C. Lucas (Labour - Wrexham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of automotive emissions on climate change in the next five years.
Answered by Andrew Jones
Cars, vans and heavy good vehicles emit greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide, which contribute to climate change.
Each year the Government publishes updated energy projections analysing and projecting future greenhouse gas emissions in the UK.
The last set of data was published in September 2014 and projects a reduction in road transport emissions over the period 2015 to 2020 from 108 Mt CO2 to 99 Mt CO2, based on current committed policy.
The UK has some of the most stretching carbon targets in the world which will see a 50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in 2025 compared to 1990 levels, on a path towards an 80% reduction by 2050.