Asked by: Alberto Costa (Conservative - South Leicestershire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of installing a self-service ticket machine at Narborough Railway Station.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Decisions on installation of self-service ticket machines at stations are for the relevant train operating company to make. East Midlands Railways is the train operating company responsible for Narborough Railway Station. The department has therefore not made an assessment of installing self-service ticket machines at Narborough Station.
Asked by: Ian Mearns (Labour - Gateshead)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent notifications she has received that (a) Chiltern Railways, (b) Cross Country Trains, (c) Greater Anglia, (d) LNER, (e) East Midlands Railway, (f) c2c, (g) Great Western Railway, (h) GTR, (i) Northern Trains, (j) South Eastern, (k) South Western Railway, (l) TransPennine Express, (m) Avanti West Coast and (n) West Midlands Trains plan to submit applications to close ticket offices regulated by Schedule 17 of the Ticketing and Settlement Agreement.
Answered by Kevin Foster
We want to move staff from behind the ticket office screens to more visible and accessible roles around stations which better support customers and train operating companies have set out early proposals for station retail reform. Any decisions which are taken will be made in accordance with the TSA and the relevant guidance.
Asked by: Ben Bradley (Conservative - Mansfield)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will release Outline Business Case funding to enable Network Rail and Midlands Connect to progress the Coventry-Leicester-Nottingham rail improvement scheme.
Answered by Wendy Morton
Although unable to discuss individual projects at this time, the Government is now focusing our investment on rail infrastructure in the Midlands and the North. This will help deliver on the Government’s ambition to grow and level up the economy and provide equality of opportunity.
We remain committed to publishing the RNEP update, which has been delayed by the need to take account of the impacts of the pandemic and the Spending Review. We want to provide as much clarity and certainty as possible on rail enhancements and will set out our plans shortly.
Asked by: Ben Bradley (Conservative - Mansfield)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of reinstating a rail link between Coventry, Leicester and Nottingham on (a) economic opportunities and (b) levelling up in those areas.
Answered by Wendy Morton
Midlands Connect produced an SOBC in May 2021 for this scheme, which examines the impacts of the proposed scheme on these areas.
We remain committed to publishing the Rail Network Enhancements Programme update, which has been delayed by the need to take account of the impacts of the pandemic and the Spending Review.
Asked by: Alex Norris (Labour (Co-op) - Nottingham North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to help reduce journey times by rail between Coventry, Leicester and Nottingham.
Answered by Wendy Morton
The Government has committed to the largest ever single investment in Britain’s railways with the £96bn Integrated Rail Plan for the North and Midlands. We will construct a new high speed line from the West Midlands to the East Midlands which will directly serve Nottingham and Derby and allow interchange at East Midlands Parkway.
In addition, we will complete electrification of the Midland Main Line, including Leicester whilst progressing options for Midlands Rail Hub, focusing on improving links across the Midlands, including Hereford, Worcester and Coventry.
We remain committed to publishing the RNEP update, which has been delayed by the need to take account of the impacts of the pandemic and the Spending Review. We want to provide as much clarity and certainty as possible on rail enhancements and will set out our plans shortly.
Asked by: Alex Norris (Labour (Co-op) - Nottingham North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of reinstating direct services on the Coventry-Leicester-Nottingham rail corridor on the number of passengers travelling by train along that corridor.
Answered by Wendy Morton
Although unable to discuss individual projects at this time the Government is now focusing our investment on rail infrastructure in the Midlands and the North. This will help deliver on the Government’s ambition to grow and level up the economy and provide equality of opportunity.
We remain committed to publishing the RNEP update, which has been delayed by the need to take account of the impacts of the pandemic and the Spending Review. We want to provide as much clarity and certainty as possible on rail enhancements and will set out our plans shortly.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the aims of the 30-year strategy for the railways, chaired by Keith Williams, are in comparison to The Williams-Shapps Plan for Rail report and the Integrated Rail Plan.
Answered by Wendy Morton
The Williams-Shapps Plan for Rail (WSPR), published May 2021, set out a wide-ranging package of commitments and reforms that represent the biggest change to the railway in three decades. One commitment is the development of a 30-year strategy for the whole rail sector, which will be produced for Ministers by the Great British Railways Transition Team, and is currently known as the ‘Whole Industry Strategic Plan’ (WISP). It is designed to provide a strategic framework, framed around five strategic objectives for rail, for decision-making over a 30-year horizon, but is not a specific package of investments. The Integrated Rail Plan for the North and Midlands gives effect to another key plank of the Williams-Shapps Plan for Rail that we want to grow, not shrink, the network. Published in November 2021, it sets out government’s plan for delivering and sequencing major investment in rail network of the North and Midlands, the biggest ever Government investment in rail.
Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the contracts for (a) Chiltern Railways, (b) Cross Country Trains, (c) Greater Anglia, (d) East Midlands Railway, (e) c2c, (f) Great Western Railway, (g) South Western Railway, (h) GTR, (i) Transpennine Express, (j) Avanti West Coast and (k) West Midlands Trains permit the operators to receive indemnification from his Department in respect of revenue losses incurred as a result of industrial action.
Answered by Wendy Morton
The 11 train operating companies referred to are under a mixture of National Rail Contracts and Emergency Recovery Measures Agreements to deliver passenger services. Where the train operating company complies with its contractual obligations, including on industrial action, revenue risks are borne by Her Majesty’s Government.
Asked by: Gavin Newlands (Scottish National Party - Paisley and Renfrewshire North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much has been levied in fixed track access charges for (a) all train operators and (b) each train operator for each financial year from 2016-17 to 2021-22.
Answered by Wendy Morton
The below table shows the amount levied in fixed track access charges for (a) all train operators and (b) each train operator for each financial year from 2016-17 to 2021-22.
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£m, cash prices |
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Franchised operator | 16/17 | 17/18 | 18/19 | 19/20 | 20/21 | 21/22 (1) |
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Arriva Trains Wales | 15.3 | 18.6 | 24.0 |
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Transport for Wales |
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| 4.5 | 32.9 |
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Keolis Amey Wales |
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| 15.0 | 33.6 | 24.8 |
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c2c | 4.1 | 4.9 | 9.8 | 15.5 | 16.7 | 16.0 |
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Chiltern | 22.1 | 22.0 | 37.6 | 33.2 | 33.5 | 35.1 |
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Cross Country | 16.5 | 22.4 | 46.2 | 49.7 | 45.9 | 45.5 |
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Virgin East Coast | 22.4 | 27.2 | 18.1 |
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London North Eastern Railway |
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| 40.6 | 50.4 | 45.7 | 55.6 |
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East Midlands | 12.2 | 15.0 | 33.5 | 18.2 |
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East Midlands Railway |
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| 29.1 | 42.5 | 39.7 |
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Govia Thameslink Railway | 31.9 | 39.2 | 85.4 | 149.0 | 155.0 | 136.7 |
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First Great Western | 24.7 | 31.7 | 67.0 | 83.2 | 78.3 | 77.6 |
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Greater Anglia | 9.8 |
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Abelio East Anglia | 8.4 | 22.2 | 47.2 | 45.3 | 55.8 | 52.2 |
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London Midland | 14.2 | 10.9 |
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West Midlands Trains |
| 4.9 | 33.6 | 46.9 | 46.6 | 52.8 |
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London Overground | 2.6 |
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Arriva Rail London | 1.6 | 5.2 | 11.0 | 19.6 | 21.7 | 22.3 |
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Merseyrail | 2.6 | 3.1 | 6.6 | 17.7 | 16.2 | 17.6 |
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MTR Crossrail | 2.0 | 2.4 | 31.1 | 69.9 | 79.9 | 79.6 |
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Arriva Rail North | 20.2 | 25.8 | 56.1 | 73.8 |
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Northern Trains |
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| 13.4 | 83.2 | 85.1 |
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Scotrail | 89.2 | 149.7 | 243.5 | 263.1 | 276.2 | 287.7 |
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Serco Sleeper | 4.2 | 7.0 | 11.0 | 4.0 | 4.2 | 4.5 |
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London & South Eastern Railway | 19.1 | 23.7 | 49.1 | 69.4 | 41.3 |
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Southeastern |
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| 35.4 | 70.5 |
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South West Trains | 20.9 | 9.4 |
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South Western Railway | 15.5 | 53.9 | 72.3 | 78.6 | 84.4 |
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Transpennine | 10.4 | 12.7 | 27.4 | 35.5 | 32.1 | 29.1 |
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Virgin West Coast | 35.8 | 43.0 | 91.1 | 42.1 |
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Avanti West Coast | 18.7 | 61.1 | 68.0 |
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Total | 390.2 | 516.5 | 1,038.8 | 1,253.6 | 1,279.3 | 1,293.0 |
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Accounting adjustments (2) | 1.8 | 2.5 | (0.8) | 0.4 | (0.3) | (0.0) |
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Total disclosed in Regulatory Financial Statements | 392.0 | 519.0 | 1,038.0 | 1,254.0 | 1,279.0 | 1,293.0 |
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Notes | |||||||||
(1) 21/22 figures have yet to be published and are subject to year end assurance and audit | |||||||||
(2) Accounting adjustments relate to some centrally managed items not attributable to an individual operator | |||||||||
Changes in franchises | |||||||||
During 2018/19 responsibility for the London North East rail franchise transferred from Virgin East Coast to London North Eastern Railway. | |||||||||
During 2018/19, London North Eastern Railway was created to operate the London North East rail franchise whilst the government assessed franchising options for this route. Therefore, income is recognised for the first time against this operator in that year | |||||||||
Abelio East Anglia replaced Greater Anglia as the franchise operator during 2016/17 which accounts for the movements between 2015/16 and 2016/17 for these two operators. | |||||||||
In 2016/17, Arriva Rail London assumed responsibility for the London overground concession previously run by London Overground Rail Operations. Therefore, there is a significant decrease in the revenue reported from London Overground in 2016/17 compared to 2015/16 with a corresponding increase in Arriva Rail London | |||||||||
In 2017/18, West Midlands Trains replaced London Midland as the franchise operator on the London North West route. This also resulted in a decrease in London Midland income in 2017/18 compared to the previous year. | |||||||||
In 2017/18, South Western Railway replaced South West Trains as the principle operator in the Wessex route. Consequently, the income earned by the latter was shown for the first time in 2017/18, whilst the former has a noticeable year-on-year decrease in their turnover in the above table in those years | |||||||||
Arriva Trains Wales – this franchise ended in October 2018. Responsibility for operations in this area moved to Keolis Amey Wales, which means that Arriva Trains Wales has a reduction in income in 2018/19 compared to 2017/18 | |||||||||
Keolis Amey Wales – this franchise commenced in October 2018, so reported income for the first time in 2018/19 | |||||||||
During 2019/20 Avanti West Coast replaced Virgin West Coast as the franchisee for the West Coast Main Line. As a result, Virgin West Coast income decreases in 2019/20 and Avanti West Coast reports income for the first time | |||||||||
During 2019/20 East Midlands Railway replaced East Midlands as the franchisee for the east midlands line. As a result, East Midlands income decreases in 2019/20 and East Midlands Railway reports income for the first time | |||||||||
During 2020/21 Transport for Wales replaced Keolis Amey Wales as the franchisee for Wales. As a result, Keolis Amey Wales income decreases in 2020/21 and Transport for Wales reports income for the first time | |||||||||
During 2019/2020 Northern Trains replaced Arriva Rail North as the franchisee for Northern. As a result, Arriva Rail North income decreases in 2019/20 and Northern Trains reports income for the first time | |||||||||
During 2020/21 Southeastern replaced London & South East Railway as the franchisee for South East. As a result, London & South East Railways income decreases in 2020/21 and Southeastern reports income for the first time | |||||||||
Asked by: Lord Bradshaw (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many single track kilometres of main line railway have been approved for completion in 2023 and beyond; and where are these railways located.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government is continuing to invest at record levels in rail enhancements across England and Wales with increased budgets from 2022-23 to 2024-25, and a renewed focus on the Midlands and the North, to grow and level up the economy and provide equality of opportunity as we build back better.
22.5km of railway were re-opened to traffic in 2021 under the Dartmoor Line scheme, the first reopening under the Restoring Your Railway manifesto commitment.
46.5km of railway are planned to be opened in 2022; including 42km in tunnel under the Crossrail / Elizabeth Line scheme, and 4.5km under the Extension of the Gospel Oak to Barking Line to Barking Riverside scheme.
347km of railway have been approved for completion in 2023 and beyond. This includes 225km for Phase One (London to Birmingham) and 60km for Phase 2a (Birmingham to Crewe) under the HS2 scheme; and 62km for Stage One of the East West Rail Connection, to extend the existing Oxford to Bicester line to Bletchley. We will also reinstate many more kilometres of track in future through the Restoring Your Railway Fund.