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Written Question
North Wales Coast Line: Electrification
Wednesday 18th October 2023

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 - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

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.


Written Question
North Wales Coast Line: Electrification
Wednesday 18th October 2023

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 - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

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.


Written Question
Speed Limits
Monday 17th July 2023

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 - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)

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).


Written Question
Railways: Concessions
Tuesday 2nd May 2023

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 - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

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.


Written Question
Railways: North Wales
Tuesday 2nd May 2023

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 - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

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.


Written Question
Transport: North Wales
Monday 17th April 2023

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 - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)

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.


Written Question
Avanti West Coast: Standards
Friday 17th March 2023

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 - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

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.


Written Question
P&O Ferries: Minimum Wage
Monday 17th October 2022

Asked by: Virginia Crosbie (Conservative - Ynys Môn)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the statement by her predecessor on 30 March 2022 on P&O Ferries, Official Report, column 840, what recent progress her Department has made on the establishment of a minimum wage corridor between the UK and Ireland.

Answered by Lucy Frazer - Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport

We are continuing our discussions on bilateral agreements with our near European neighbours, including Ireland, as a matter of priority. These negotiations are focusing on how we can collaborate to improve seafarer welfare and how we can work through international organisations to create a step change in seafarer welfare. We are also exploring the creation of minimum wage equivalent corridors to ensure seafarers receive fair pay whilst working in our respective territorial waters.


Written Question
Infrastructure: North Wales
Thursday 8th September 2022

Asked by: Virginia Crosbie (Conservative - Ynys Môn)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he is taking steps to assess the potential wider impact of (a) HS2 and (b) other infrastructure projects on regional economic activity in North Wales.

Answered by Robert Courts - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)

By improving regional connectivity, the Integrated Rail Plan will unify labour markets so that people can access a much wider range of jobs; bring businesses closer together; and improve access to key international gateways and markets so that they become even more attractive locations for business investment. The Crewe Northern Connection would improve connections from North Wales to the HS2 network, potentially bringing many passengers within 2 hours 15 minutes of London. Our plans will enhance connectivity to much of the West Midlands, Cheshire and North Wales not directly served by HS2.


Written Question
High Speed 2 Line: Leeds
Wednesday 7th September 2022

Asked by: Virginia Crosbie (Conservative - Ynys Môn)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Government's decision not to proceed with the HS2 rail extension to Leeds on commuters from North Wales.

Answered by Trudy Harrison

The Eastern Leg of HS2 as previously planned would have gone from the West Midlands to Leeds via the East Midlands. Given the geography of the line, the impact of changes to the route upon commuters in North Wales will be minimal as the new proposed route will go from the West to East Midlands with upgrades to the existing rail network to allow high speed services to reach Nottingham and Sheffield (via Derby and Chesterfield) and a further study of how best HS2 services could reach Leeds.

We will build the Western Leg of HS2 as previously planned, which will allow the Crewe Hub to be realised,helping enhance connectivity to much of the West Midlands, Cheshire and North Wales not directly served by HS2.