Public Transport: Expansion and Electrification

Lord Snape Excerpts

Monday 19th May 2025 Lords Chamber

[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.

[Lord Snape (Lab)]

My Lords, is my noble friend aware that it is more than 40 years since Sir Peter Parker, the then chairman of British Rail, recommended a rolling programme of railway electrification in this country? It would have had, as he said at the time, the twin merits of keeping together the expertise of those carrying out electrification and reducing long-term cost. Does the Minister agree with me that Sir Peter Parker was right then and he would be right now?

[Lord Katz (Lab)]

I absolutely agree with my noble friend that electrification is an important part of the mix in decarbonising our transport network and achieving our net-zero goals. Electrification is indeed the most widespread method of decarbonising the railway. Some 39% of the railway network is electrified but 74% of passenger vehicle kilometres travelled are electric, so we are making progress. I cannot give my noble friend any further commitments, but we are looking beyond the trans-Pennine route upgrade to identify further opportunities for electrification across the network as part of the spending review.