Oct. 18 2023
Source Page: Light rail and other rapid transit solutions in cities and townsFound: Light rail and other rapid transit solutions in cities and towns
Oct. 18 2023
Source Page: Light rail and other rapid transit solutions in cities and townsFound: Light rail and other rapid transit solutions in cities and towns
Dec. 08 2023
Source Page: Minimum service levels for passenger railway services regulationsFound: level , the minimum service level for light rail defined below only applies to light rail services
Asked by: Simpson, Graham (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party - Central Scotland)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it will address any challenges around decarbonising rail freight, especially on less busy lines "where network electrification is unlikely to be cost-effective", in light of the Climate Change Committee’s recommendation in its 2023 Report to Parliament.
Answered by Hyslop, Fiona - Minister for Transport
Freight transported by rail (whether hauled by diesel or electric locomotives) is an environmentally friendly mode of transport and a significant proportion of Scottish rail freight is already electrically-hauled. The Scottish Government’s leadership in support for rail freight is outlined in our rail freight strategy and put into practice with significant investment and through our regulatory rail freight growth targets.
We will carefully consider the report’s recommendations. The Scottish Government will continue to seek to maximise benefits for rail freight in its investments in the rail network, including in the refresh of the rail decarbonisation action plan highlighted by the Climate Change Committee.
Asked by: Lord Haselhurst (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what recent assessment they have made of the Very Light Rail prototype under development by Coventry City Council and the University of Warwick.
Answered by Lord Davies of Gower - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Very Light Rail in Coventry is an emerging technology being researched and developed by Coventry City Council (CCC) and West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA). Local proposals to develop this technology include building a demonstrator route in Coventry City Centre.
WMCA has included the development of Very Light Rail within its £1.05 billion City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS) programme agreed with Government. Investment decisions on the Very Light Rail programme are subject to approval by the Department for Transport.
The Department’s officials have reviewed the Strategic Outline Business Case for the VLRRP, which is now being progressed through bespoke governance as a Research and Development project to reflect the novel nature of the Very Light Rail prototype.
Jan. 25 2024
Source Page: Rail factsheet: 2023Found: Rail factsheet: 2023
Asked by: Christine Jardine (Liberal Democrat - Edinburgh West)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has had discussions with the (a) Secretary of State for Levelling Up and Communities and (b) devolved Administrations on the potential impact of (i) tram and (ii) light rail projects on active travel infrastructure.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department for Transport has regular discussions with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, as well as with the devolved administrations. However, no specific discussions have taken place with these bodies regarding the impact of light rail projects on active travel infrastructure.
Local transport authorities are responsible for bringing forward mass transit projects, including developing proposals regarding technology choice, route selection and alignment. The Department encourages authorities to consider how mass transit schemes can provide effective integration with other modes, including active travel.
Asked by: Greer, Ross (Scottish Green Party - West Scotland)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of East Dunbartonshire Council’s Local Transport Strategy 2020-25 and Local Development Plan 2 both committing to safeguarding land for an Allander rail station between Milngavie and Hillfoot, what its position is on whether it supports East Dunbartonshire Council’s aspiration for a new station at this location when funding and other factors allow.
Answered by Hyslop, Fiona - Minister for Transport
Currently the Scottish Government has no evidence to support a new Allander rail station.
East Dunbartonshire Council undertook a transport appraisal in 2018 for the A81 corridor which concluded none of the rail options offered sufficient value for money. My officials at Transport Scotland engaged extensively with East Dunbartonshire Council as part of the Council’s work to develop their Local Development Plan. This included providing advice to the Council on the transport appraisal required to justify any new strategic transport infrastructure, including rail stations.
We are not aware of East Dunbartonshire Council having any plans to revisit their transport appraisal work. However, if a robust business case is presented for rail proposals, such proposals will be considered by Transport Scotland, subject to Scottish Government’s priorities, our rail investment strategy, affordability and other competing priorities.
Found: Rail decarbonisation theme.
Asked by: Cameron, Donald (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party - Highlands and Islands)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has any plans to revise its growth target for rail freight, in light of reports that the UK Government has set a target to grow rail freight by at least 75% by 2050.
Answered by Hyslop, Fiona - Minister for Transport
The Scottish Government has led on rail freight growth, setting the first target of its kind in 2017 for the period 2019 -2024. This was consolidated further in 2023 with a more stretching rail freight growth target of 8.7% for the rail period 2024-2029 (through the Scottish Ministers’ High Level Output Specification) and a requirement for Network Rail to set out a longer-term strategy for growth by 2027. The Scottish Government welcomes the UK Government’s interest in promoting freight modal shift and notes that the target for England and Wales for 2024 -2029 is 7.5%.