Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pu if she will list all reports and documents that train operators have (a) submitted to and (b) discussed with her Department on the reliability of battery (i) bi-mode, (ii) tri-mode, (iii) battery/electric hybrid and (iv) fully electric trains.

Department officials are working closely with train operators and Network Rail to build a full understanding of the different traction opportunities as we work towards Net Zero in rail by 2050.

The rail industry has developed a range of evidence supporting the known case for the reliability and performance benefits of electric traction over diesel traction in rail. This includes work by the Rail Safety & Standards Board, the Railway Industry Association, and Network Rail, examples of which are provided below.

• https://www.rssb.co.uk/research-catalogue/CatalogueItem/T1145
• https://www.riagb.org.uk/RIA/RIA/Newsroom/Publications%20Folder/Why_Rail_Electrification_Report.aspx
• https://www.riagb.org.uk/RIA/RIA/Newsroom/Publications%20Folder/A_lower_cost__higher_performing_net-zero_railway.aspx
• https://www.networkrail.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Traction-Decarbonisation-Network-Strategy-Interim-Programme-Business-Case.pdf

It is also important to note that these technologies, particularly battery, are rapidly developing and our understanding is constantly growing with the support of Network Rail and our train operators.