Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the effect on the level of greenhouse gas emissions of the Government's decision of June 2017 to cancel the planned electrification of railway lines between (a) Cardiff and Swansea, (b) Kettering and Sheffield and (c) Windermere and Oxenholme.

We are committed to a greener, cleaner transport system. That’s why we are modernising the UK rail fleet to introduce more electric, bi-mode (electric and diesel hybrid) and alternative-fuel trains to the network. Better trains and upgraded infrastructure will take polluting cars and lorries off our roads – reducing the overall carbon footprint of UK transport – making our air cleaner..

On the Midland Main Line, brand new intercity trains will be introduced, which will have less environmental impact than the current trains, some of which are over 30 years old. They will be bi-mode, which means they can also take advantage of the electrified parts of the line.

Our ambition is that these will be the cleanest ever bi-mode trains. Abellio, who have recently been awarded the new East Midlands Railway franchise, are seeking innovative ways to keep emissions to a minimum when running under diesel power. It is not possible to accurately calculate the environmental impact of new bi-mode trains until the design and development of the new trains is complete.

This new franchise will be at the forefront of delivering a cleaner, greener rail network. Abellio will trial hydrogen fuel cell trains on the Midland Main Line and will run zero-carbon pilots at six stations along the route.

Once the transformation of the Great Western is complete the new Intercity Express trains will spend most of the journey between London and Swansea in electric mode. In diesel mode the new trains meet the highest rolling stock emissions standards.

On Windermere to Oxenholme, there are proposals for alternative fuel trials involving battery technology by Northern on the Lakes Line.