Asked by: Virginia Crosbie (Conservative - Ynys Môn)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what his Department's timeline is for works to complete the electrification of the North Wales mainline; what the estimated cost is for the electrification of that line; and what estimate he has made of the effect of the upgrade on journey times between Holyhead and London and other destinations.
Answered by Huw Merriman
The Government has announced its commitment to fund the electrification of the North Wales Mainline within the £36 billion Network North programme. We are undertaking detailed delivery planning on a project-by-project basis and will share further information when that work is complete.
Asked by: Virginia Crosbie (Conservative - Ynys Môn)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the potential economic benefits of the funding for the electrification of the North Wales mainline on the constituents of (a) Ynys Mon and (b) North Wales.
Answered by Huw Merriman
The Government has announced its commitment to fund the electrification of the North Wales Mainline within the £36 billion Network North programme. We are undertaking detailed delivery planning on a project-by-project basis and will share further information when that work is complete.
Asked by: Virginia Crosbie (Conservative - Ynys Môn)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department have made of the impact of 20 mph zones have on traffic speed.
Answered by Richard Holden - Shadow Secretary of State for Transport
The Department’s comprehensive three-year evaluation of the effect of 20mph signed only limits was published in 2018. It found there has been a small reduction in median speed (less than 1mph).
Asked by: Virginia Crosbie (Conservative - Ynys Môn)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of creating a rail travelcard for NHS workers; and whether he has had recent discussions with relevant stakeholders on this issue.
Answered by Huw Merriman
We recognise the challenges that all passengers are facing with the cost of living. This is why we have delivered the biggest Government intervention on rail fares since privatisation by capping fares at 5.9 per cent, 6.4pps below July 2022 RPI.
There are currently no plans to introduce an NHS railcard. Any new concessionary products such as extending free or discounted travel to NHS workers, must be balanced against the financial impact on other fare payers and the public purse.
Asked by: Virginia Crosbie (Conservative - Ynys Môn)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has made of the potential impact of Northern Powerhouse Rail on (a) North Wales and (b) Anglesey.
Answered by Huw Merriman
The Government published the Integrated Rail Plan (IRP) for the North and Midlands in November 2021 of which Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) forms one component. As NPR is a programme designed to improve connectivity in the North of England, specific impacts on North Wales and Anglesey from the scheme have not been assessed.
The IRP will improve onward connectivity to Wales via a new high-speed line from Birmingham to Manchester. Much of North Wales will be brought within two and a quarter hours of London, via interchange with HS2 at Crewe.
Asked by: Virginia Crosbie (Conservative - Ynys Môn)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will work with the Welsh Government on a multimodal review of the North Wales transport corridor to develop improvements of (a) the North Wales Main Line, (b) connectivity with HS2, (c) electrification), (d) the A55, (e) the M53, (f) the M56, and (g) travel to and from the island of Ireland.
Answered by Richard Holden - Shadow Secretary of State for Transport
Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill’s independent Union Connectivity Review recognised the importance of transport connectivity right across our United Kingdom recommended that a multimodal review of the North Wales transport corridor be undertaken.
It is the UK Government’s clear view that we should work towards improving transport via all modes in order to ensure that opportunity is available to all in every part of our United Kingdom. This includes via road, which in addition to private car and motorcycle, also carry the overwhelming majority of freight and over three-quarters of public transport users, especially from lower-income and elderly groups by bus and younger people via long-distance coach travel.
Following the Union Connectivity Review, the Welsh Government subsequently announced the establishment of the North Wales Transport Commission, led by Lord Burns, to assess the transport system in North Wales.
We will consider any recommendations that Commission makes and to the Union Connectivity Review in due course but it’s clear from the UK Government’s recent announced investment in Holyhead in Ynys Mon that the UK Government understand the value and importance of the North Wales Traffic Corridor across all modes of transport.
Asked by: Virginia Crosbie (Conservative - Ynys Môn)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he has taken to assess the performance of Avanti West Coast in the period since its contract was extended.
Answered by Huw Merriman
The Department’s officials meet Avanti West Coast’s senior management weekly to review its performance. We are holding Avanti West Coast to account for matters within its control and will continue to use all contractual levers to drive the best outcomes for passengers.