Public Transport: Expansion and Electrification

Lord Bishop of St Albans Excerpts

Monday 19th May 2025 Lords Chamber

[Lord Katz (Lab)]

My Lords, we are looking for opportunities to provide diesel-free solutions to rail travel. That includes not only electrifying more of the network but looking for infills such as bi-modes, or some of the battery trials we have seen in places such as Greenford and on Merseyrail, to supplement non-electrified routes in a carbon-free way. Hydrogen has its place in the mix, but the sector seems to be taking a mostly electric route these days.

[The Lord Bishop of St Albans]

My Lords, it is absolutely right that we try to move forward to decarbonise our public transport system, but many of our rural areas have quite inadequate public transport already, before we start to add that as an extra burden. Could the Minister tell us what rural-proofing is being done on this policy so that we can make sure that we are getting levelling up among rural areas?

[Lord Katz (Lab)]

I will start by pointing the right reverend Prelate to the Bus Services (No.2) Bill that we have discussed in the House in recent weeks. That is a huge commitment to supporting the decarbonisation of the bus fleet. That Bill will take steps to accelerate the decarbonisation of the bus fleet and invest more than £37.5 million in the rollout of more zero-emission buses. We confirmed over £1 billion of investment in buses at the Budget to support improved services across the country, including in rural areas, as well as keeping fares affordable.