Asked by: Yasmin Qureshi (Labour - Bolton South and Walkden)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what research the Government has commissioned on covid-19 transmission on public transport.
Answered by Baroness Maclean of Redditch
The Department for Transport has worked with a Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) sub-group to develop the Transport Risk Assessment for COVID Knowledge (TRACK) project. TRACK is an 18-month, £1.7 million UKRI-funded project to understand and model the transmission of COVID-19 on public transport. The Department has also commissioned the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory to do work on the transmission risk for aviation.
Further information can be found in a press release from the University of Leeds from the 21st October entitled "Research to understand COVID-19 spread on public transport”.
Asked by: Yasmin Qureshi (Labour - Bolton South and Walkden)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to transition the self-powered train fleet from diesel to hydrogen.
Answered by George Freeman
The Government supports the use of hydrogen trains on the railway where appropriate to deliver our legally binding target to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions from the UK by 2050.
Network Rail is developing a Traction Decarbonisation Network Strategy which will examine which parts of the network are best suited to use of hydrogen trains, as well as battery and electrification. This will inform Government decisions in 2020.
Our innovation programmes have supported the development of hydrogen technology, such as the ‘Hydroflex’ train, and continue to provide funding opportunities for innovative environmental projects. The Government is also funding work on safety and wider issues that will have to be considered to allow the smooth entry into service on the network of hydrogen trains.
Asked by: Yasmin Qureshi (Labour - Bolton South and Walkden)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress has been made on the Castleford Corridor enhancement project in central Manchester.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris
The Government recognises the performance and capacity problems in Manchester and therefore commissioned Richard George and Network Rail to recommend service and infrastructure options. Officials have now received the first recommendations, which they are currently considering and expect more of over the course of the next few months.
Asked by: Yasmin Qureshi (Labour - Bolton South and Walkden)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many railway (a) lines and (b) stations closed under Beeching the Government plans to bring back into service.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris
To help communities across the country, we have pledged £500m to start reopening lines closed following the Beeching report, reconnecting smaller towns, regenerating local economies and improving accessibility to jobs, homes and education.
Further details will be announced in due course.
Asked by: Yasmin Qureshi (Labour - Bolton South and Walkden)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether there are plans to introduce a Sunday rail service for Moses Gate, Farnworth and Kearsley stations.
Answered by Andrew Jones
There are currently no plans to introduce a Sunday rail service at these stations as part of Northern’s franchise agreement, the specification for which was developed in consultation with local authorities and Transport for the North. Whilst the railway needs to balance passenger and stakeholder aspirations with the practical and economic viability of running additional services, ideas for these can always be put forward for consideration to Transport for the North.
Asked by: Yasmin Qureshi (Labour - Bolton South and Walkden)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans the Government has in place to mitigate the disruption caused by HS2 works on London to Manchester train routes.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani
The government is very conscious of the need to minimise any potential for disruption to the national rail network - including the London to Manchester route - during the construction of HS2. HS2 Ltd are working closely with Network Rail and the Train Operating Companies to mitigate against this at London Euston, where work is already underway, and is continuing to develop its plans regarding works at Crewe station.
Asked by: Yasmin Qureshi (Labour - Bolton South and Walkden)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the provision of alternative transport during the closures at Euston station in the last three weeks of August 2018.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Marylebone
The weekend Euston closures occurred 18-19 August, 25-27 August and 1-2 September. The Department will review the effectiveness of the provision of alternative services with Chiltern Railways in due course. Chiltern advised that 48,000 additional seats were provided during the West Coast Main Line blockade period. West Coast passengers from Bolton, Warrington and Crewe were permitted to travel via Birmingham on the Chiltern route.
Asked by: Yasmin Qureshi (Labour - Bolton South and Walkden)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has made of the potential effects on passenger safety of overcrowding on trains.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Marylebone
All franchises let by Department for Transport require the train operator to take reasonable steps to address crowding.
Safe assessment and operation of services is a matter for individual rail operators’ safety management systems as certificated by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR). We expect all franchised operators to discharge the Franchise Agreement in line with industry safety standards.
Asked by: Yasmin Qureshi (Labour - Bolton South and Walkden)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an assessment of the merits for passenger safety of a maximum ratio of passengers to seats in trains.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Marylebone
All franchises let by Department for Transport require the train operator to take reasonable steps to address crowding.
Safe assessment and operation of services is a matter for individual rail operators’ safety management systems as certificated by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR). We expect all franchised operators to discharge the Franchise Agreement in line with industry safety standards.