Mentions:
1: Baroness Randerson (LDEM - Life peer) If they do not, what do they plan to do instead to deal with the current decline of our railways? - Speech Link
2: Baroness Vere of Norbiton (CON - Life peer) The creation of Great British Railways in full does require legislation, which we will progress when - Speech Link
3: Baroness Vere of Norbiton (CON - Life peer) My Lords, I hope to take a trip to Japan soon to go and see those fantastic railways. - Speech Link
4: Baroness Vere of Norbiton (CON - Life peer) That is why we must see reform of the railways if they are to have a viable future. - Speech Link
Asked by: Louise Haigh (Labour - Sheffield, Heeley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Written Statement of 20 February 2024 on Government response to the consultation on rail reform legislation and draft Rail Reform Bill, HCWS267, what estimate he has made of the savings available to the public purse from the Government's proposals on rail reform; and how that calculation was made.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Written Statement references the draft Rail Reform Bill. The Impact Assessment published alongside the draft Bill gives estimates of costs and savings related to the proposals for a new industry structure. We are committed to reforming the railways and we are getting on with delivering improvements for passengers, freight customers and the taxpayer. Industry experts’ suggested savings are set out in the Plan for Rail.
Mentions:
1: Lord Berkeley (Lab - Life peer) , in particular private railways—some of them are steam railways—we found that no consideration was given - Speech Link
2: None , or steam railways. - Speech Link
3: Lord Davies of Gower (Con - Life peer) I am sure that is something that heritage railways can take up. - Speech Link
4: Lord Tunnicliffe (Lab - Life peer) It is a simple idea that saves the railways spending lots and lots of unnecessary money. - Speech Link
5: Lord Berkeley (Lab - Life peer) We covered a wide range of level crossings and railways, and many other issues. - Speech Link
Mentions:
1: Lord Faulkner of Worcester (Lab - Life peer) with improving the railways by stimulating demand and reducing cost. - Speech Link
2: Lord Berkeley (Lab - Life peer) On the railways, it is interesting. - Speech Link
3: Lord Murphy of Torfaen (Lab - Life peer) He is a great expert on these matters.I will speak about railways. - Speech Link
4: Lord Liddle (Lab - Life peer) In 2018, the railways were unable to produce a timetable that worked. - Speech Link
Correspondence Oct. 20 2023
Committee: Transport Committee (Department: Department for Transport)Found: Correspondence from the Managing Director, Chiltern Railways relating to rail ticket office closures,
Asked by: Stephen Morgan (Labour - Portsmouth South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether an independent oversight mechanism will be established to oversee Great British Railways.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) is the independent safety and economic regulator for the railway in Great Britain. ORR will continue to provide independent oversight, upholding the interests of rail users and taxpayers, once Great British Railways is established.
Mentions:
1: Richard Graham (Con - Gloucester) We approved the legislation that enabled private railways such as Brunel’s Great Western to exist and - Speech Link
2: Theresa May (Con - Maidenhead) Friend made about the advantages we saw from privatisation of the railways. - Speech Link
3: Wera Hobhouse (LD - Bath) The Government said that Great British Railways would produce a 30-year plan to electrify the railways - Speech Link
Asked by: Louise Haigh (Labour - Sheffield, Heeley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Answer of 11 October 2022 to Question 53555 on Railways: Contracts, for what reason his Department has not updated data on fees paid to train operating companies since September 2021; and if he will publish that data.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Department publishes fees data after performance scores have been determined. Fees data, for the period up to September 2021, was published on 15 December 2022. The Department intends to publish updated operational support and fees data in the coming months.
Mar. 07 2024
Source Page: I. The Plan for Rail. A consultation on legislation to implement rail transformation: Government response. 106p. II. Draft Rail Reform Bill. 32p.Found: We have announced that the Great British Railways Headquarters will be in Derby, and Great British Railways
Asked by: Marsha De Cordova (Labour - Battersea)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has plans to reduce the presence of guards on trains.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Government is committed to reforming outdated working practices and improving the operational and financial sustainability of the sector. Train operating companies as the employer can consider where roles can be more adaptable and flexible in future. The UK’s rail network is one of the safest in Europe and our commitment to safety will not change. We will never compromise the safety of passengers on our railways and as the industry takes forward reforms, safety remains a top priority for all parties.