Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what changes to the East Coast Main Line timetable he is planning for May 2023.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Work is continuing to develop an East Coast Mainline timetable that meets stakeholder needs, delivers the benefits of the East Coast Upgrade and is affordable in the context of the industry’s financial position.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what benefits his changes to the East Coast timetable will deliver.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Work is continuing to develop an East Coast Mainline timetable that meets stakeholder needs, delivers the benefits of the East Coast Upgrade and is affordable in the context of the industry’s financial position.
Asked by: Louise Haigh (Labour - Sheffield, Heeley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to page 14 of the Integrated Rail Plan for the North and Midlands published on 18 November 2021, what estimate his Department has made of the length of track in kilometres that is feasible to upgrade to 140mph.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Initial analysis conducted by Mott MacDonald on behalf of the Department suggests that it would be feasible to upgrade up to 135 miles (217km) of the East Coast Main Line to support 140mph operation.
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 Integrated Rail Plan p15, whether the assumptions of twenty five minute time savings are based on reducing intermediate stops along the East Coast Mainline.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Integrated Rail Plan (IRP) sets out ambitious plans for the upgrade of the East Coast Main Line (ECML). The fastest ECML journey times quoted in the IRP may be achieved through a combination of increasing maximum speeds from 125mph to 140mph on some sections of the route, and by some services making fewer intermediate stops. Intermediate stations along the route would be served by separate services and the detailed timetable specification will be developed when the IRP is progressed.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will publish the results of the Single Leg Pricing fares trial in operation for certain journeys on the East Coast Main Line since January 2020.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Department has conducted a review of the Single Leg Pricing fares trial on London North Eastern Railway (LNER). The report is being finalised and we intend to publish the findings in due course.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans his Department has for extending the Single Leg Pricing fares trial to all other East Coast Main Line Long Distance High Speed rail journeys.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Department has conducted a review of the Single Leg Pricing fares trial on LNER. The report is being finalised and we intend to publish the findings in due course. We will then consider the next steps as part of our commitments to reform fares.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with officials on the implementation of the East Coast Main Line timetable change.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
My two predecessors had various discussions with officials on the implementation of the ECML timetable change, following the timetable consultation in 2021. To ensure stakeholder needs are fully met and performance on the network is fully understood prior to operation, introduction is targeted for 2023 or later.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, in what (a) month and (b) year his Department planned to deliver the East Coast Main Line timetable change when funding was announced in July 2018 for the East Coast Upgrade engineering works.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
In July 2018 the ECML timetable change related to the ECML Upgrade was to be delivered in December 2020.
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 his Department’s planned size for the East Coast Main Line Long Distance High Speed rail fleet operating to and from (a) London King’s Cross, (b) Leeds and (c) Edinburgh in each of the five years from 2023.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Each train operator contracted by the Department for Transport is required to submit an Annual Business Plan. Draft fleet plans for the period from 2023 to 2028 have just been received from train operators and are being reviewed. The information in these plans is commercially confidential.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent estimate he has made of the (a) cost to the public purse of and (b) projected revenue from long-distance high speed rail services on the East Coast Main Line to and from (i) London King’s Cross, (ii) Leeds and (iii) Edinburgh in each year between 2023 and 2028.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Draft forecasts for the period from 2023 to 2028 have just been received from train operators and are being reviewed. The information on costs and revenues is commercially confidential.