Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he plans to hold discussions with Network Rail on the potential merits of ensuring that maintenance closures on the east and west coast mainlines are scheduled on different dates.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Network Rail is committed to ensuring that at least one cross-border route is available for passenger and freight services at all times other than in unforeseen or exceptional circumstances. Where that is not possible, Network Rail sets out what steps are being taken to minimise disruption for passengers and freight services.
Asked by: Alison McGovern (Labour - Wirral South)
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 industrial action by rail workers on the ability of Avanti West Coast to adequately improve their service before their extended contract expires.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
On 11 December Avanti West Coast (AWC) implemented major changes to its timetable, increasing services from four trains per hour to seven trains per hour, which is expected to lead to an improvement in reliability. The delivery of the new timetable has been restricted by strike action and, on non-strike days, bad weather and engineering works, which has meant that passengers are yet to see a sustained improvement.
The Department will review AWC’s operational performance over the term of the Emergency Measures contract as one of the important factors when considering the contractual arrangements for train services on the West Coast Main Line beyond 1 April 2023, recognising that not all factors are within AWC’s control. Whether there has been stable industrial relations and cooperation from Trade Unions will be taken into consideration.
Asked by: Damien Moore (Conservative - Southport)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he plans to take additional steps to ensure the effective operation of the West Coast Main Line prior to the expiry of the short-term contract for the management of that line with Avanti West Coast.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Effective operation of the West Coast Main Line requires Network Rail, as the infrastructure manager, and the train operating companies including West Midlands Trains, Avanti West Coast, and TransPennine Express to work collaboratively. Where train operating companies, including Avanti West Coast, perform poorly, the Department will continue to hold them to account for the things within their control using the mechanisms within the contract.
Asked by: Louise Haigh (Labour - Sheffield, Heeley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to Written Answer of the 28 October 2022 to Question 67099 on Department of Health and Social Care: Public Expenditure, what the expected annual expenditure will be on the Major Projects Portfolio projects for the (a) Rapid Charging Fund, (b) Midlands Rail Hub, (c) East Coast Mainline Programme, (d) East Coast Digital Programme, (e) A417 Air Balloon, (f) Lower Thames Crossing, (g) HS2 Phase 2b Western Leg, (h) A303 Amesbury to Berwick Down, (i) Further Electrification of Midland Main Line, (j) East West Rail Configuration State 1, (k) A428 Black Cat to Caxton Gibbet, (l) HS2 Phase 2a, (m) A12 Chelmsford to A120 Widening, (n) Transpennine Route Upgrade, (o) A66 Northern Trans-Pennine, (p) HS2 Phase 1, (q) Rail Passenger Services, (r) Crossrail Programme, (s) East West Rail Connection Stage 2 and 3, (t) Midland Main Line Programme, (u) 2nd Generation UK Search and Rescue Aviation and (v) Rail Transformation Programme; and if he will place that information in the House of Commons Library.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The annual expenditures of these 22 major projects for 2021-22 were published on 20 July 2022 with the Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA) Annual Report 2021-2022. This data can be found in the accompanying ‘GMPP Government Major Projects Portfolio AR Data March 2022’ document as ‘Financial Year Forecast (£m) (including Non-Government Costs)'. As set out in PQ 68561 it is not currently possible to provide the expected annual expenditures for 2022-23 but these will be published at the appropriate time.
Asked by: Gavin Williamson (Conservative - South Staffordshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, which areas to the north of Birmingham on the West Coast Mainline will have increased (a) train paths and (b) platforms following the construction of phase two of HS2.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
HS2 will provide high-speed inter-city services on dedicated lines that will free up train paths and platforms on the southern end of the West Coast Main Line, and generate much-needed additional network capacity. The indicative train service assumptions that underpinned the IRP and inform the HS2 and NPR business cases included HS2 services to several destinations on the north end of the West Coast Main Line.
Platform capacity at Crewe will increase as a result of the arrival of HS2 services. There will be 16 platforms in the new station layout, an increase of 4. Some of these will be bay platforms which will remove the conflict of mainline services such as HS2 and regional services, possibly opening up further timetabling options. Works to platforms at Preston and Carlisle are also planned as part of HS2 Phase 2b Western Leg.
No final decisions have been made on the train service that will run when HS2 becomes operational. These decisions will be taken nearer the time, drawing on advice from the West Coast Partnership and Network Rail, and will be subject to public consultation.
Asked by: Dan Carden (Labour - Liverpool, Walton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether any performance-related fees will be paid to Avanti West Coast for the six month period from April 2022.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Under both the previous and current operator contracts the operator receives a fixed fee and can earn a performance-based fee. Performance is independently evaluated against set criteria and considers all elements within the operator's control. The Performance Based Fee for the period covering 1 April 2022 to 16 October 2022 is currently under review. At this stage of the process, it would be improper to comment on the outcome of that independent evaluation.
Asked by: Dan Carden (Labour - Liverpool, Walton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what target for reducing cancellations has his Department set for Avanti West Coast as part of the deal for keeping that rail contract.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Department has been clear that the service for passengers on the West Coast is not good enough. Ministers and officials meet Avanti and First Trenitalia senior management regularly to review Avanti’s progress against its service restoration plan, holding them accountable for matters within their control. The recent short-term contract extension allows Avanti an opportunity to deliver a reliable timetable for passengers. The Department will consider its performance, including the number of cancelations attributable to Avanti, before making any long-term decision on the operation of the route.
Asked by: Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru - Arfon)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an assessment of the impact of the reduction in Avanti West Coast's service since summer 2022 on the economy of North Wales.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
No assessment has been made of the specific impact but the Department recognises the importance of a high performing railway in contributing to growth and local economies. Avanti West Coast temporarily reduced its overall timetable to ensure a more stable and reliable service for passengers. It has now restored services to North Wales with five direct services between London and Holyhead per day, more than before the August timetable step-down. Crucially, this uplift in services is not dependent on driver rest day working.
Asked by: Gavin Williamson (Conservative - South Staffordshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether Phase 2 of HS2 will reduce or increase capacity of the West Coast Main Line north of Birmingham.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
HS2 will provide high-speed inter-city services on dedicated lines that will free up train paths and platforms on the West Coast Main Line, and generate much-needed additional network capacity for both passenger and freight services.
The indicative train service assumptions that inform the HS2 and NPR business cases included HS2 services to several destinations on the north end of the West Coast Main Line that may free up conventional rail paths to those destinations. No final decisions have been made on the train service that will run when HS2 becomes operational. These decisions will be taken nearer the time, drawing on advice from the West Coast Partnership and Network Rail, and will be subject to public consultation.
Asked by: Lord Roberts of Llandudno (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they will take to ensure that there is a direct Holyhead to Euston rail link.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
Avanti West Coast is currently operating a reduced timetable due to staff shortages. From 12 December Avanti plans to reinstate direct services between London and Holyhead in each direction.