Asked by: Michael Fabricant (Conservative - Lichfield)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will amend the terms of reference for the Oakervee Inquiry into the future of HS2 to include (a) alterations to the existing route of Phase 1a, (b) cancellation of the existing route of Phase 1a and a proposal new route to link London and Birmingham and (c) cancellation of HS2 in its entirety; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The terms of reference for the independent review into HS2 were published on 21 August 2019. These are wide and allow the review panel to consider the areas raised in your question without amendment.
Asked by: Michael Fabricant (Conservative - Lichfield)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the effect of the change to train services at Lichfield Trent Valley (LTV) rail station after the award of the West Coast Main Line rail franchise to First Trenitalia on (a) timetabling, (b) passenger comfort and (c) capacity; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The West Coast Partnership operator will introduce brand new trains to replace the Voyager fleet and the Pendolino fleet will be fully refurbished, improving reliability, WIFI connectivity, luggage space and information systems. The introduction of new trains will also increase the number of seats available for passengers across the route, including from Lichfield Trent Valley. At least the same number of West Coast services will call at Lichfield Train Valley as today.