Apr. 26 2024
Source Page: Specialised Committee on the Implementation of the Windsor Framework: joint statement, 25 April 2024Found: institutions in February 2024, and welcomed the significant investment into cross-border intercity rail
May. 24 2024
Source Page: New Chair of the Consumer Council for Water appointedFound: Robert will succeed the departing Chair, Robert Light, for a three-year term commencing on 6 June 2024
May. 24 2024
Source Page: New Chair of the Consumer Council for Water appointedFound: Robert will succeed the departing Chair, Robert Light, for a three-year term commencing on 6 June 2024
Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the cost of constructing the Great Western station at Old Oak Common with (1) four platform faces to serve the Elizabeth line and other suburban services, and (2) four platforms to serve the Great Western inter-city services to Reading and beyond; and whether they will place in the Library of the House a copy of the outline track and platform layout as presently drafted.
Answered by Lord Davies of Gower - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
As noted in the last report to Parliament, HS2 cost estimates are currently being revised in light of the scope changes arising from the Network North announcement.
Within the Target Cost for Phase One, the budget allocated by HS2 Ltd for Old Oak Common station, including contingency for risk, is £1.67bn (2019 prices). As Old Oak Common is being designed and delivered as a single, integrated station this budget includes the costs for delivering both the HS2 and conventional rail elements.
A copy of the outline track and platform layout as presently drafted will be made available to place in the Library of the House. Please see the Key Plan attached which was submitted with the Old Oak Common Station Schedule 17 application.
Dec. 11 2023
Source Page: Cost of installing LED road studs: EIR releaseFound: ............................................................................. 9 4.4.4 Weather and Light
Asked by: Peter Gibson (Conservative - Darlington)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she has had discussions with the Heritage Railway Association on the (a) availability and (b) affordability of coal.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
We acknowledge the difficult circumstances facing the heritage steam sector in light of the high cost of coal on international commodity markets due in part to the Russia/Ukraine conflict. The Heritage Minister, Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay, met the Chief Executive of the Heritage Railway Association along with the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Heritage Rail in July 2023, to discuss a range of issues, including the availability and affordability of coal. In November 2023, Lord Parkinson attended the Heritage Railway Association Annual General Meeting in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, where they discussed the matter further. The Department is continuing to keep an ongoing dialogue with the heritage steam sector to understand the opportunities and challenges it faces.
Asked by: Simpson, Graham (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party - Central Scotland)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure greater low-carbon connectivity to Scottish airports, in light of the Climate Change Committee’s recommendation in its 2023 Report to Parliament.
Answered by Fairlie, Jim
The Scottish Government’s Aviation Statement, which will be published shortly, will set out actions that the Scottish Government will take to help achieve our aviation emissions reduction targets.
Additionally, we have already set out 45 recommendations for future investment in Scotland’s strategic transport network in the second Strategic Transport Projects Review, published on 8 December 2022. Within these recommendations we have considered airport access in our strategic transport planning considerations. These have been considered in the recommendations for mass or rapid transit systems for the Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen City Regions, in the form of Clyde Metro, Edinburgh and South East Scotland Mass Transit and Aberdeen Rapid Transit. These recommendations can provide a transformational change in the service provision, focusing on strategic routes and / or corridors where bus and rail provide the most effective service. This will improve access to an affordable and reliable public transport system within these City Regions.
National Planning Framework 4 is also now in effect. Policy 13, ‘Sustainable Transport’, has a clear intent ‘to encourage, promote and facilitate developments that prioritise walking, wheeling, cycling and public transport for everyday travel and reduce the need to travel unsustainably.’ It promotes the National Transport Strategy 2 and places the climate emergency at the forefront of decision making.
Asked by: Rowley, Alex (Scottish Labour - Mid Scotland and Fife)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports of antisocial behaviour remaining "stubbornly high", what its position is on whether current levels of antisocial behaviour on trains exceed any thresholds set by ScotRail's safety committee, and whether it will provide an update on its plans to tackle antisocial behaviour on trains.
Answered by Hyslop, Fiona - Minister for Transport
The British Transport Police advises that its operations in partnership with ScotRail, have seen a reduction in antisocial behaviour on Scotland’s rail network.
BTP continues to work in collaboration with ScotRail’s Travel Safe Team to reduce this number even further, and tackle any incidents of antisocial behaviour on Scotland’s Railways.
Written Evidence Apr. 16 2024
Committee: Transport Committee (Department: Department for Transport)Found: RRB0051 - Scrutiny of the draft Rail Reform Bill Eversholt Rail Limited Written Evidence
Asked by: McCall, Roz (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party - Mid Scotland and Fife)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports of the funding issue for the St Andrews rail link being resolved, when it anticipates that this project will be completed.
Answered by Hyslop, Fiona - Minister for Transport
The Scottish Government is providing £220,000 of support to the St Andrews Rail Link (StARLink) project through the Local Rail Development Fund (LRDF).
Responsibility for the management and delivery of the project sits with the StARLink Campaign which is required to provide a detailed options appraisal, to the Scottish Government, by the end of March 2024.
To inform the next stages of the project, this appraisal will then be considered against the Scottish Government’s investment priorities for the strategic transport network, a robust business case, affordability and other competing proposals.