Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has made a recent assessment of the potential merits of building the Western Rail Link to Heathrow.
Answered by Huw Merriman
This Government remains committed to improving rail access to Heathrow Airport and recognises the importance of the improved rail connectivity that a Western rail link could provide. We need to ensure that the projects we take forward reflect the changed shape of rail demand and are affordable. Following the Autumn Statement on 17 November we are in the process of reviewing the Rail National Enhancements Portfolio and will make the outcome public once that work is complete.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions he has held with (a) officials in his Department, (b) the Civil Aviation Authority, (c) Heathrow Airport and (d) Network Rail on the development of the Western Rail Link to Heathrow.
Answered by Wendy Morton - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
This government remains committed to improving rail access to Heathrow and has co-funded the recently opened Elizabeth Line which operates between Paddington and Heathrow.
Asked by: Sarah Olney (Liberal Democrat - Richmond Park)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the calculated benefit-cost ration was for HS2 (a) in its original conception, including a link to HS1 and a spur to Heathrow airport, (b) as originally envisaged but without the link to HS1, (c) as originally envisaged but without the link to HS1 and without the Heathrow link, (d) in the configuration following the deletion of most of the eastern leg, and (e) in its present configuration with the deletion of the link from HS2 to the west coast main line just south of Wigan.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
Benefit Cost Ratios for the HS2 programme have been published within business cases at different stages of the scheme’s development. A list of relevant business cases is provided below.
It is important to note that the BCRs set out below have been developed over a significant period of time and will reflect different inputs and assumptions as well as changes to the network assessed. This includes changes in exogenous forecasts such as GDP and population forecasts, which are inputted into the models and which impact on benefit and revenue estimates. Cost estimates have also been developed over time, reflecting changing levels of cost maturity. These factors mean that direct comparison between the BCRs for the different HS2 networks set out below is not possible. It should also be noted that there is an inherent degree of uncertainty in developing a single BCR for a programme being developed and delivered over several decades.
Nevertheless, the below are available as publicly assessable documents. The BCRs requested are provided below as is a link to the documents they were published in:
(a) In its original conception, including a link to HS1 and a spur to Heathrow airport
https://hs2ltd.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/summary-economic-case_0.pdf
(b) As originally envisaged but without the link to HS1
(c) As originally envisaged but without the link to HS1 and without the Heathrow link
(d) In the configuration following the deletion of most of the eastern leg
We do not have a BCR for the full HS2 network which accounts for the commitments on the Eastern Leg made in the Integrated Rail Plan, as options are being developed. The BCR for the full network for HS2 which includes Phase One, 2a and 2b Western Leg was published in the January 2022 business case: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1051209/hs2-phase-2b-western-leg-crewe-to-manchester-an-update-on-the-strategic-outline-business-case.pdf
(e) In its present configuration with the deletion of the link from HS2 to the West Coast Main line just south of Wigan.
As above, we do not have a BCR for the full HS2 network which accounts for the commitments on the Eastern Leg made in the Integrated Rail Plan, as options are being developed. However there is a BCR for the full network for HS2 which includes Phase One, 2a and 2b Western Leg (excluding the link from HS2 to the west coast main line (known as the Golborne Link)) which was published in the June 2022 business case: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1084080/hs2-phase-2b-western-leg-crewe-to-manchester-supplement-to-the-update-on-the-strategic-outline-business-case.pdf
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the total amount of public money spent on (a) consulting on and (b) planning the Western Rail Link to Heathrow.
Answered by Wendy Morton - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The estimated total amount of money spent on the Western Rail Link to Heathrow is £46.9m.
Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the estimated cost of the Western Rail Link to Heathrow; and how much of that cost will be contributed by Heathrow Airport.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton
The total nominal capital cost for the Western Rail Link to Heathrow, in 2018 prices, is estimated at around £1.5bn to construct the rail link between Heathrow Airport Station and the Great Western Main Line. For the scheme to proceed, the Government has been clear that Heathrow Airport Limited would need to secure and provide an acceptable financial contribution.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, for what reason the Western Rail Link to Heathrow was not included in the Union Connectivity Review.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris
Sir Peter Hendy’s Union Connectivity Review was an independent review and it is not for the UK Government to respond to questions about what was and was not included.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he plans to include the Western Rail Link to Heathrow in the upcoming Spending Review.
Answered by Simon Clarke
The Spending Review will set UK Government departments’ resource and capital budgets for the next 3 years (2022-23 to 2024-25) and devolved administrations’ block grants for the same period. The Spending Review will conclude on 27th October alongside the Autumn Budget 2021.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has had recent discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the inclusion of the Western Rail Link to Heathrow in the Autumn Spending Review.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris
The Department for Transport has submitted its Spending Review bid to HM Treasury. Ministers and officials have had, and will continue to have, discussions with HM Treasury during the Spending Review process.
Asked by: Luke Pollard (Labour (Co-op) - Plymouth Sutton and Devonport)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when construction work will start on the Western Rail Access to Heathrow.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris
Construction of the Western Rail Link to Heathrow is expected to start following the granting of planning consent, with construction of the main build estimated to take approximately five years. Submission of the scheme’s application for development consent, is subject to a satisfactory business case and the agreement of acceptable terms with the Heathrow Aviation industry.
Asked by: Luke Pollard (Labour (Co-op) - Plymouth Sutton and Devonport)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the potential cost increase as a result of the two year delay to the Western Rail Access to Heathrow project.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris
Progress on the Western Rail Link to Heathrow is subject to a satisfactory business case and the agreement of acceptable terms with the Heathrow aviation industry. Negotiations on these terms have not yet concluded and any estimate of cost to the taxpayer is dependent on this agreement. There is also no reason why costs would increase as a result.