Asked by: Rob Roberts (Independent - Delyn)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the oral contribution of 20 April 2023 by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport, Official Report, column 366, what progress his Department has made on the recommendations of the Union Connectivity Review on improving connectivity between North Wales and North West England on (a) the A55 and (b) the North Wales Coast Main Line.
Answered by Richard Holden - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill’s independent Union Connectivity Review recognised the importance of transport connectivity right across our United Kingdom.
I recently visited Wales to meet stakeholders and visit a wide range of transport connectivity projects. I am committed to improving transport via all modes to ensure that opportunity is available to all in every part of our United Kingdom.
My department is working collaboratively with the Welsh Government to consider Lord Hendy’s recommendations and develop options for improving transport connectivity in North Wales. The UK Government will respond to Lord Hendy’s Review as soon as possible.
Asked by: Viscount Waverley (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact on the UK’s freight transport capacity of decisions to delay (1) HS2, and (2) the third road investment strategy (RIS3), construction.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
HS2 will release capacity on the West Coast Main Line which will be used for additional local and regional passenger trains and freight. No decisions have been made as to exactly what trains will run and work is ongoing to develop the optimal service pattern which best meets the needs of passengers and freight customers. Rephasing of HS2 will be taken account of in this work as it develops. HS2 has not been delayed in terms of Phase 1 and Phase 2b to Manchester.
The Government has not undertaken an assessment of the impact on freight of the delivery of schemes being developed in the Roads Investment Strategy 3 (RIS3) pipeline in RIS4. This is because those schemes were not committed nor fully developed. The Government has announced that two RIS2 schemes - A27 Arundel and A5036 Princess Way in Liverpool – will be deferred. In addition, construction of Lower Thames Crossing will be slowed down by two years to ensure that there is an effective and deliverable plan.
Asked by: Navendu Mishra (Labour - Stockport)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the oral contribution by the hon. Member for Stockport during the debate on West Coast Main Line: Services on 15 December 2022, Official Report, column 1295, when the Minister plans to write to the hon. Member on the subject of railway cleaners.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Although not directly employed by Avanti West Coast, its cleaning suppliers are contracted to ensure, as a minimum, that Avanti West Coast cleaning staff receive the real living wage, or London living wage. Avanti West Coast also holds and must maintain a living wage accreditation. I will write to you shortly to address your other points raised, including on minimum pay conditions on other operators.
Asked by: Julian Knight (Independent - Solihull)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing new competitive open-access train service contracts on the West Coat Mainline.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Department sees an important role for open access, with improved connectivity and choice for passengers key parts of rail reform. The Department assesses any new open access application individually and responds based upon the merits of specific proposals; this is the case for applications to run services on the West Coast Mainline or any other part of the network. Access to the rail network is ultimately a matter for the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) in its role as independent regulator for the rail industry.
Asked by: Michael Fabricant (Conservative - Lichfield)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Written Ministerial Statement of 9 March on Transport Update, whether the construction of HS2 between Birmingham and the point where it joins the West Coast Main Line near Handsacre will be affected by the construction rephase.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Department is continuing to work through the implications of the funding settlement with HS2 Ltd and further details will be confirmed formally shortly.
Asked by: Alison McGovern (Labour - Wirral South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how long before a planned train service is due to go ahead does Avanti West Coast know there will be a shortage of train crew.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Operators aim to understand and mitigate resource availability as far out as possible but circumstances such as training, sickness, other restrictions, and emergency releases as well as other external factors can change the position right up until the day of travel. Disruption is further exacerbated by inflexible working practices and terms and conditions, which is why workforce reforms are vital to build a better, more reliable railway for passengers.
Asked by: John Spellar (Labour - Warley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many passengers travelled on the (a) East and (b) West Coast Main Lines in (i) first and (ii) standard class in (A) 2019 and (B) 2022.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Office for Road and Rail (ORR) are responsible for collecting and publishing national statistics on rail passenger journeys. The ORR do not disaggregate between first and standard class for this dataset.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an assessment of the potential economic impact of the east and west coast mainline closures on 18 and 19 February 2023 on (a) Scotland and (b) the UK.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Network Rail aims to minimise the impact on passenger and freight services and in this case is able to maintain an Anglo-Scot route despite the parallel East Coast Mainline and West Coast Mainline closures. Rail passengers can still travel, albeit with extended journey times and the need to change, and freight volumes are generally lower on Saturdays than on weekdays and very low on Sundays. Network Rail considered moving the timing of one of the pieces of work, but assessed that this would cause more disruption for passengers and freight customers.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of East and West Coast Mainline closures on 18 and 19 February on freight moved by rail.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Network Rail aims to minimise the impact on passenger and freight services and in this case is able to maintain an Anglo-Scot route despite the parallel East Coast Mainline and West Coast Mainline closures. Rail passengers can still travel, albeit with extended journey times and the need to change, and freight volumes are generally lower on Saturdays than on weekdays and very low on Sundays. Network Rail considered moving the timing of one of the pieces of work, but assessed that this would cause more disruption for passengers and freight customers.
Asked by: Navendu Mishra (Labour - Stockport)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the correspondence from the Minister of State for Transport to the hon. Member for Stockport of 11 January 2023, if he will make an estimate of the number of catering roles that have been reduced on the West Coast Mainline in the period since Avanti West Coast took over that franchise.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Based on the December 2022 headcount figures, there has been a reduction of approximately 150 in on-board managers who undertake catering duties since Avanti West Coast (AWC) first took over the Franchise. It is important to note that pre-COVID staffing levels aligned to the timetable and catering proposition operating at that time. During the pandemic, AWC operated reduced timetables and moved towards demand-based staffing on-board, with staff who retired or resigned not automatically replaced. There has also been an industry-led Voluntary Service Scheme which was available to catering staff who opted to leave. AWC monitor catering demand and fill vacancies as required.