Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to support investment in sustainable freight locomotives.
Answered by Wendy Morton
Our Transport Decarbonisation Plan (TDP) set out our ambition to remove all diesel-only trains (passenger and freight) from the network by 2040. We will continue to work closely alongside operators and manufacturers on deploying the most appropriate traction technology, this includes looking at alternate fuels including renewable hydro-treated vegetable oil (HVO), hydrogen, battery or bi-mode and hybrid traction technology. Trials are currently being undertaken by freight operators to assess the use of renewable HVO as a short-term replacement for traditional diesel used in the interim during transition to zero emission alternatives.
In both the TDP and the William Shapps Plan for Rail we committed to introducing a rail freight growth target and to incentivising the early take up of low carbon traction to help operators have the confidence they need to invest in green technologies.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to (a) decarbonise and (b) increase efficiency in the rail freight sector.
Answered by Wendy Morton
Pursuant to the answer of 27/04/2022 to question 160513 “To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to support investment in sustainable freight locomotives.” Government remains committed to its ambition of removing all diesel-only trains (passenger and freight) from the network by 2040, as set out in our Transport Decarbonisation Plan (TDP).
We are working closely with industry to better understand opportunities for decarbonisation, including electrification, renewable hydro-treated vegetable oil (HVO), hydrogen, battery or bi-mode traction technology. For example, in 2021/22, Government funded a Connected Places Catapult-led R&D project to identify low-emission technologies for use in the rail freight estate towards stimulating innovation in the sector. We will also build extra capacity on our rail network to meet growing passenger and freight demand, supporting modal shift and incentivising the take up of low carbon traction for rail freight.
Regarding increased efficiency in the rail freight sector, Government is committed to unlocking the benefits rail freight can deliver by working towards maximising utilisation of the network and increasing rail freight’s role in supporting resilient supply chains We continue to work closely with Network Rail (NR) and Freight Operating Companies (FOCs) to increase rail freight capacity, including: increasing the number of train paths available from Felixstowe Port and through the running of longer and heavier trains. We have also committed to introducing a rail freight growth target, which will reflect the sectors own business growth ambitions.
Asked by: John Hayes (Conservative - South Holland and The Deepings)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of (a) rewarding passengers for using trains with a low carbon footprint and (b) incentivising operators of diesel powered trains to make the switch to HVO green diesel where electrification is still not an option.
Answered by Wendy Morton
All trains, when well-utilised, have a low carbon footprint compared to alternative transport modes.
In our Transport Decarbonisation Plan (TDP) we have committed to working with industry to modernise fares ticketing and retail to encourage a shift to rail and cleaner and greener transport journeys.
Our ambition is to remove all diesel-only trains (passenger and freight) from the network by 2040. As we decarbonise the railway, we must develop individual decarbonisation schemes carefully to ensure that they deliver both decarbonisation and other benefits, as well as value for money for the taxpayer. This will involve working closely with operators and manufacturers on assessing and deploying the most appropriate traction technology, this includes electrification, alternate fuels (such as HVO), as well as hydrogen, battery or bi-mode and hybrid traction technology.
Asked by: John Hayes (Conservative - South Holland and The Deepings)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to encourage freight and passenger operators of diesel powered trains and rolling stock to switch to drop-in HVO green diesel.
Answered by Wendy Morton
Our Transport Decarbonisation Plan (TDP) set out our ambition to remove all diesel-only trains (passenger and freight) from the network by 2040. We will work closely with operators and manufacturers on deploying the most appropriate traction technology, this includes looking at alternate fuels including renewable hydro-treated vegetable oil (HVO), hydrogen, battery or bi-mode and hybrid traction technology.
In our TDP we have also committed to introducing a rail freight growth target - which should not become a ceiling - as well as incentivising the early take up of low carbon traction for rail freight. Separately, trials are being undertaken by freight operators to assess the use of renewable HVO as a short-term replacement for traditional diesel used in the interim during transition to zero emission alternatives.
Asked by: Lord Birt (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Vere of Norbiton on 9 February (HL5871), whether the existing diesel rail fleet will be replaced with new diesel trains when it is retired.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
As mentioned in my previous answer to HL 5871, when existing diesel trains require replacement we will work closely with operators and manufacturers on deploying the most appropriate traction technology. The Government supports the deployment of hydrogen and battery trains to decarbonise the network, as well as further electrification, and we would expect where diesel-only trains are replaced, their replacements combine different power technologies that make the most operational and economic sense.
Asked by: Matt Vickers (Conservative - Stockton South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the cost of electrifying all railway lines in (a) the North East and (b) England.
Answered by Wendy Morton
As set out in the Transport Decarbonisation Plan, the UK Government is committed to achieving a net zero railway by 2050. Achieving that will require a mix of battery trains, hydrogen trains and track electrification, not just wholesale electrification of the currently unelectrified network.
Electrification costs across the country can vary significantly depending on factors that include complexity and topography. We will continue to ensure that new schemes deliver value for money for taxpayers.
Asked by: Matt Vickers (Conservative - Stockton South)
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 introducing hydrogen-powered trains.
Answered by Wendy Morton
In our Transport Decarbonisation Plan, we have committed to delivering a net zero rail network by 2050, with sustained carbon reductions in rail along the way. To help deliver the government’s net zero commitment, we will electrify most of the network and deploy battery and hydrogen trains on some lines, where it makes economic and operational sense.
The government is supporting the development of battery and hydrogen technology in rail through innovation funding and research. The outcome of this research will inform any assessment of the relevant merits of hydrogen, battery and electrification on the railway. Since the start of 2019, the Department has provided just over £4m of funding through Innovate UK-run First of a Kind competitions for new traction technologies that will help decarbonise the railway. This includes £750,000 to facilitate trials of the UK’s first hydrogen-powered train, HydroFLEX, which was showcased at COP 26.
In addition, Great Western Railway has signed a deal that will see the UK’s first battery-only train enter scheduled passenger service. The trial is supported by £2.15m funding from the Department for Transport's Rail Network Enhancement pipeline (RNEP).
Asked by: Lord Birt (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to require rail operators to acquire hydrogen-powered trains to replace diesel trains on routes where electrification is not economic, in order to meet their objectives of (1) removing diesel trains by 2040, and (2) achieving net zero by 2050.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
As existing diesel trains require replacement we will work closely with operators on the most appropriate traction technology. The government supports the deployment of hydrogen and battery trains to decarbonise the network, where they make operational and economic sense. The government supports this through innovation funding and research. This includes work on safety and wider issues that will have to be considered to allow battery and hydrogen trains smooth entry onto the network. That is why since the start of 2019, the Department has provided just over £4m of funding through Innovate UK-run First of a Kind competitions for new traction technologies.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the priority given by his Department to rail electrification has changed as a result of the Autumn 2021 Comprehensive Spending Review.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
As set out in ‘Decarbonising Transport – A Better, Greener Britain’, we are committed to delivery of a net zero railway network by 2050. Electrification, hydrogen and battery trains will all play a part in achieving this commitment. We will continue to ensure that electrification schemes deliver value for money for taxpayers and that the industry is able to deliver a decarbonisation programme in a sustainable way.
We have delivered hundreds of miles of electrification since 2010 and we continue to expand the electrified rail network. For example, we recently confirmed £78m to electrify the route between Wigan North Western and Bolton. It will enable greener electric trains, with more seats to serve passengers across Greater Manchester. The scheme is on track and targeted for completion in 2024.
The Integrated Rail Plan announcement also confirmed that we will complete the electrification of the Midland Main Line from London to Nottingham, Derby and Sheffield, and deliver full electrification and upgrade of the Transpennine Main Line between Manchester, Leeds and York.
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 proportion of the UK rail network that will be electrified by 2040.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
To help deliver the government’s net zero commitment we will electrify most of the network and deploy battery and hydrogen trains on some lines, where it makes economic and operational sense. This is set out in our Traction Decarbonisation Plan.
We will continue to develop electrification schemes through the Rail Network Enhancements Pipeline process in the usual way, to ensure that they are affordable, deliverable, and represent value for money.