Asked by: Oliver Colvile (Conservative - Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether Sir Peter Hendy's work to re-plan the Network Rail enhancements programme in Control Period 5, 2014-19, takes account of maximising the journey time benefit for the South West peninsula by use of the new high-speed AT300 trains which are due to be introduced in December 2018.
Answered by Claire Perry
Sir Peter Hendy has been asked to review Network Rail’s enhancement portfolio, so that works may be delivered over a more realistic timeframe. The terms of reference are clear that work is to be prioritised to take “particular account of interfaces with other infrastructure programmes and the need to deliver the required passenger and freight benefits, franchise or rolling stock commitments”. Sir Peter Hendy is due to report later in the Autumn.
Asked by: Oliver Colvile (Conservative - Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what geological assessment his Department has made to ensure the stability of (a) the sea wall at Dawlish, (b) the cliff at Teignmouth and (c) the line between Newton Abbott and Plymouth.
Answered by Claire Perry
Network Rail is carrying out a further study to look at options to increase the long term geo-environmental resilience of the existing main line from Exeter to Newton Abbot. The study looks at the coastal and sea wall elements and the cliffs. It is due to be fully complete in April 2016 with an options assessment report available by the end of 2015. There has been no geological assessment of the rail route from Newton Abbot to Plymouth.
Asked by: Oliver Colvile (Conservative - Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when his Department will decide whether to order additional new rolling stock from Hitachi to service the far South West; and if he will include a more powerful hybrid engine to account for the undulating geography of the South West in such an order.
Answered by Claire Perry
First Great Western’s procurement exercise for new trains to serve the South West is making good progress; and we expect them to submit final proposals to the Department for consideration over the summer. The new train fleet will have appropriate performance characteristics to operate on the far South West routes.
Asked by: Oliver Colvile (Conservative - Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, which organisation will be responsible for the inquiry into the viability of the re-opening of Plymouth Airport.
Answered by Robert Goodwill
The Department for Transport is looking at how best to take this study forward and hopes to be in position to announce shortly how this will be undertaken. We recognise the need to consider the views of all stakeholders who have an interest in the site and take to account of previous studies that have been commissioned with regards to Plymouth airport.