Department for Transport

Improving railway performance and delivering reform is my top priority. The Rail Minister and I continue to hold Train Operating Companies and Network Rail to account through the levers available to us, and will not hesitate to take action where there is a breach. I have also recently announced that performance information will be displayed at stations, demonstrating transparency and allowing passengers to hold us to account as we deliver change.

The government has confirmed £955 million for the 2025 to 2026 financial year to support and improve bus services in England outside London. This includes £243 million for bus operators and £712 million allocated to local authorities across the country. Shropshire Council has been allocated £4.4 million of this funding.

As the Secretary of State noted in her oral statement to the House of Commons on 18 November, funding for local authorities has been allocated based on local needs, including population, the distance that buses travel, and levels of deprivation.

The government has confirmed £955 million for the 2025 to 2026 financial year to support and improve bus services in England outside London. This includes £243 million for bus operators and £712 million allocated to local authorities across the country. Shropshire Council has been allocated £4.4 million of this funding.

As the Secretary of State noted in her oral statement to the House of Commons on 18 November, funding for local authorities has been allocated based on local needs, including population, the distance that buses travel, and levels of deprivation.

The government has confirmed £955 million for the 2025 to 2026 financial year to support and improve bus services in England outside London. This includes £243 million for bus operators and £712 million allocated to local authorities across the country. Shropshire Council has been allocated £4.4 million of this funding.

As the Secretary of State noted in her oral statement to the House of Commons on 18 November, funding for local authorities has been allocated based on local needs, including population, the distance that buses travel, and levels of deprivation.

The Office for the Traffic Commissioner (OTC) only publish data on a traffic area wide basis. In the West Midlands, the term traffic area wide would include the West Midlands conurbation, Warwickshire, Staffordshire, Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Shropshire.

In 2009/10 the OTC reported that there were 2,262 local bus services registered in the West Midlands. In 2023/24 there were 633 registered with a traffic commissioner. However, it should be noted that this figure does not include services that operate wholly within the West Midlands Combined Authority as they hold delegated authority under their Enhanced Partnership to register local services.

Electrification will play an important role in our programme to achieve our Net Zero 2050 target. Discontinuous electrification, as well as alternative technologies such as hydrogen, battery and bi-modes will also play a part. Which rail lines will be electrified will broadly depend on the most suitable technological choice and value for money. More widely, the Transport Secretary has stated that we want to move to a vision-led approach to planning infrastructure so that transport is an engine for social mobility and economic growth.

The Office of Rail and Road publishes complaints data on a quarterly basis for all rail operators. London North Eastern Railway also undertakes its own research to understand and respond to passenger needs. The latest Office of Rail and Road passenger complaints data is available on its website at the following link:

https://dataportal.orr.gov.uk/statistics/passenger-experience/passenger-rail-service-complaints

For the 4-week period from 7 October 2024 to 1 November 2024 a total of 21,710 desks were occupied in our London office against a maximum available desk capacity of 25,220.

In that same 4-week period 3,201 different Department for Transport staff attended our London office. It is not possible to determine how many staff assigned to our London building attended.

The Government expects electrification to play an important role in our programme to achieve our Net Zero 2050 target and improve the passenger experience.

Overhead Line Electrification will remain the best value for money option for some lines, for example where there is high speed, high volume of passenger trains, or high freight use; but other lines may represent better value for money by electrifying less and utilising hybrid electric and battery power trains. East West Rail has recently launched a non-statutory consultation which sets out a preference for discontinuous electrification and a final decision will be informed by the consultation responses.

The UK ferry market predominantly operates on a private sector, commercial basis without government support or intervention. As such decisions on increased services is a matter for the relevant operators, and we note that there are multiple routing options for ferry access between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The Government is considering options to decarbonise the domestic maritime sector which - alongside the expansion of the UK ETS to domestic maritime from 2026, will deliver more sustainable travel options between GB and NI.

The Northern Ireland rail network is fully devolved, operated by Translink and provided grant capital from Department for infrastructure.

The Secretary of State for Transport has commissioned a review of the Department’s capital portfolio which will inform the next phase of the cross-Government Spending Review. It is too early to say how this will affect the proposed Norwich Western Link, but the Department will be in touch with the promoter, when there is further information.

The Government’s Budget in October delivers increased investment in local transport, supporting everyday journeys and addressing poor connectivity within our towns and cities across the country. The Department’s Major Road Network/ Large Local Majors programme, which includes the proposed A39 Camelford Bypass scheme, is now being reviewed in light of the Budget. Further details will be released in due course.

The Department is committed to working with the rail industry to reduce the number of deaths by suicide. Each rail operator is responsible for delivering a suicide prevention plan and maintaining accreditation to the independently assessed Safeguarding on Rail Scheme.

Their plan must include training of public-facing staff in suicide prevention, putting in place mitigation measures at stations and promoting avenues of help for vulnerable people at risk of suicide or self-harm.

The British Transport Police works in collaboration with its partners to ensure incidents are managed swiftly and people are treated with dignity. Network Rail has a long-standing relationship with The Samaritans, and funds the ‘Small Talk Saves Lives’ campaign. Since launching in 2017, the campaign has successfully raised awareness within railway stations and other public settings about the need to trust your instincts and start a simple conversation if you think someone might need help.

The Government is dedicated to ensuring EV drivers can charge across the country, wherever they live. Through the Local EV Infrastructure Fund, local authorities in England are being supported to install tens of thousands of chargepoints.

For those without off-street parking, the Government also offers the Electric Vehicle Chargepoint Grant for Households with On-Street Parking. Eligible applicants can get up to £350 off the cost of installing a domestic chargepoint, when paired with a cross-pavement solution.

Going forward, the Government confirmed in the October 2024 Budget that it will be investing over £200 million in 2025-26 to accelerate EV chargepoint rollout, including funding to support local authorities to install on-street chargepoints across England.

As part of its statutory consultee role for large-scale planning applications, Active Travel England (ATE) assesses the quantity and quality of cycle parking in new residential, retail and business developments alongside measures that would secure access to shared cycle schemes. In particular, ATE applies the best practice parking standards set out in chapter 11 of LTN 1/20 and reviews development travel plans to ensure that bike share schemes can be accessed where the size and location of development will engender demand.

Operations and access to spaces for dockless cycle schemes are for local authorities to manage, working with e-cycle scheme operators. Funding for public-accessible cycle storage has been made available from a range of local transport funds, including the Active Travel Fund and City Regional Sustainable Transport Settlement.

HS2 must meet regulatory and legal requirements to protect existing wildlife and is also committed to a target of ‘No Net Loss’ in biodiversity. HS2 Ltd therefore deploys an adaptive approach to wildlife protection and environmental mitigation. The design and construction of HS2 is required to meet legislative and regulatory requirements, and HS2 Ltd’s proposals for mitigation are subject to review, inspection and guidance from the regulators to ensure mitigations are in place to protect wildlife.

HS2 is an integrated scheme where routine wildlife protection costs are accounted for within the overall costs, except for a number of specific structures. It is therefore not feasible to immediately isolate a proportion of the costs for the mitigation required for wildlife protection, which is an ongoing responsibility as construction continues and circumstances on the ground continue to develop.

Once constructed, the new HS2 railway will result in over 33 km² of habitats being in place for species to use, a significant amount of which is directly provided as part of HS2’s commitment to wildlife protection.

Tackling violent crime is a priority for the British Transport Police (BTP) and they are committed to taking action to prevent the theft of personal property. BTP works closely with rail industry partners to ensure that passengers and rail staff feel safe on the network.

The BTP tackles violent crime through specialist policing capabilities designed specifically to prevent crime and harm on the railways and strong partnerships with Home Office forces. They utilise a range of policing techniques including overt and covert patrols at hot spot locations, regular high-visibility patrols across the network and use internal and external intelligence to assist in targeting locations.

To help prevent theft from passengers BTP officers conduct high-visibility patrols on trains, stations, and platforms, particularly in areas with higher crime rates. These patrols serve as a deterrent and allow officers to spot and address suspicious behaviour early on.

BTP frequently runs campaigns to remind passengers to stay vigilant and keep their belongings secure. This includes visible signage, announcements, and social media alerts with tips for safeguarding personal items.

We are committed to Britain becoming a Clean Energy Superpower and ports are a key part of that mission. Ports are primarily private entities and the cost of electrification of onshore marine ports varies from port to port depending on the port's needs. The cost can be significantly higher or lower depending on the electricity demand and the distance from a connection point.

The Department is considering options for the branding on trains for Connection Stage One (CS1) East West Rail services between Oxford, Bletchley and Milton Keynes and is holding discussions with the relevant parties, this has included Chiltern Railways and East West Rail Company who are supporting preparations for EWR CS1 Services.

The Department monitors the adequacy of train services from all train stations, including Haddenham and Thame Parkway.

Chiltern Railway provide a frequent service with three trains per hour during peak times and two trains per hour during the off-peak service from Haddenham and Thame Parkway to other stations along the Chiltern Mainline route between London Marylebone and Birmingham Moor Street. When planning the timetable, operators look at several factors including passenger demand and infrastructure constraints, as well as operational considerations, such as, fleet or driver availability. The goal is to provide an efficient and reliable service for all passengers and the Department regularly reviews operational performance across the rail network.

Laura Shoaf has been appointed as Chair of Shadow Great British Railways. In this role she convenes the leaders of Network Rail, DfT’s Operator of Last Resort and DfT’s Rail Services Group who maintain their existing accountabilities.

As Shadow Great British Railways is not an organisation in its own right, there are no plans to appoint a CEO.

In the Budget on 30 October, the government confirmed it will invest over £150 million to introduce a new £3 cap on single bus fares in England outside London from 1 January until 31 December 2025. Under the plans of the previous administration, the current £2 cap on bus fares had been due to expire on 31 December 2024, and prior to the Budget, there was no further funding available to maintain the cap beyond this point.

Considering all its impacts, the fare cap is not financially sustainable for taxpayers and bus operators at £2. Capping fares at £3 will keep bus travel affordable while ensuring the cap is fair to taxpayers, helping millions of people access better opportunities, travel for less and protect vital bus routes, including in Gosport.

The UK aviation market operates predominantly in the private sector. Airlines’ business models can at times accommodate more flexible pricing than the railway.

The Government sets the percentage that regulated rail fares can be increased each year. Regulated fares make up around 45 per cent of rail fares and include commuter fares, such as season ticket and shorter-distance peak return, alongside longer-distance off-peak returns. The increase in regulated fares for 2025 will be the lowest absolute increase in three years and delivers a fair balance between passengers and taxpayers.

We have no plans to reduce the role of independent retailers once rail operators are brought into public ownership.

Independent retailers add significant value to the marketplace in driving innovation and the Government wants to see them continuing to do so in the future.

The Public Service Vehicles (Conditions of Fitness, Equipment, Use and Certification) Regulations 1981 sets out the requirements for public service vehicles in relation to the equipment on board and vehicle specification. It makes clear that ‘adequate ventilation shall be provided for passengers and the driver without the necessity for opening any main window or windscreen’. Bus operators are required ensure their fleet complies with these regulations.

The UK SHORE programme has funded over 150 projects and has leveraged over £100m private investment, supporting all levels of research and development including feasibility studies, trials and demonstrations in a commercial environment. The funding is benefitting all 12 regions in the UK, supporting over 350 organisations, including over 200 SMEs.

All projects are detailed on Innovate UK’s website and we are conducting in independent evaluation assessment of the programme which is measuring its impact and helping us shape future support as well as policy.

Following the Autumn Budget on 30 October 2024, DfT now has its budget for the next Financial Year (2025 / 2026). We are waiting for the internal business planning process to conclude before we can confirm what that means in terms of funding for individual programmes.

The new Government’s manifesto made it clear that the “grid has become the single biggest obstacle to the deployment of cheap, clean power generation and the electrification of industry.” My Department meets regularly with ports and District Network Operations (DNOs) to understand the challenges they face in relation to electrification, to signpost information and to raise their concerns across government. As a mission driven government, the Secretary of State for Transport attends the Clean Energy Mission Board, which is chaired by DESNZ Secretary of State, a key focus of which grid investment and connection's process reform.

The British Transport Police (BTP) are dedicated to building a modern, inclusive, and resilient force that reflects the communities it serves. Their latest headcount figures show the Force is successful at maintaining staff and officer numbers at a consistent level.

The Force has focussed on leadership development to foster a culture of empowerment, empathy and support. They have introduced a new well-being programme for the workforce, and they are investing in technology, training and facilities to equip their officers with the necessary tools for the dynamic environment they operate in every day.

BTP is also committed to creating a more representative workforce and have an outreach programme to encourage applications from candidates in underrepresented groups.

BTP is launching a pilot in London for new recruits to join BTP as part time police constables. This is a commitment from BTP’s Learning and Development Strategy to attract high calibre applicants, from a range of backgrounds, who would otherwise not be able to apply or consider becoming a police officer.

We are committed to the transition from internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles to electric vehicles, as this will drive economic growth, help the UK meet its climate change obligations and improve air quality.

To support that transition, the Department for Transport continues to work closely with the Northern Ireland Executive. Transport is a devolved matter, so this would be the decision of the Executive.

I recognise the importance of connectivity between London and Belfast and welcomed the recent Urgent Question on this issue earlier this month.

The Department meets regularly with airlines, including British Airways, to discuss a variety of topics. This includes operational performance and regional connectivity. The Department will continue to meet with airlines to discuss these topics going forward.

The Government is committed to accelerating the roll-out of charging infrastructure so that everyone, no matter where they live or work, can make the transition to an electric vehicle (EV). As of November, there are over 71,000 publicly available charging devices in the UK. The £381 million Local EV Infrastructure (LEVI) Fund currently supports local authorities in England to work with industry to transform the availability of EV charging for drivers without off-street parking and will support the installation of tens of thousands of local chargers.

The Government also confirmed in the October 2024 Budget that it will continue to support the uptake of EVs by investing over £200 million in 2025/26 to accelerate EV chargepoint rollout.

There are currently no plans to centralise the procurement of bus service contracts. The government believes that local leaders are best placed to make decisions about funding and bus services in their communities.

As announced in the King’s Speech on 17 July 2024, the government will introduce a Buses Bill later this session. The Bill will increase powers available to local leaders to choose the model that works best in their area, whether that be franchising, high-quality partnerships with private operators or local authority ownership.

The Government is committed to accelerating the roll-out of charging infrastructure so that everyone, no matter where they live or work, can make the transition to an electric vehicle (EV). As of 1 November, there are over 71,000 publicly available charging devices in the UK.

The Local EV Infrastructure (LEVI) Fund supports local authorities in England to work with industry to transform the availability of EV charging for drivers without off-street parking and will support the installation of tens of thousands of local chargers. The Government confirmed in the October 2024 Budget that it will continue to support the uptake of EVs by investing over £200 million in 2025/26 to accelerate chargepoint rollout.

“The Plan for Drivers” was published by the previous government. The Department is considering the measures within it in the light of this Government’s priorities.

This Government takes road safety seriously, and we are committed to reducing the numbers of those killed and injured on our roads. My Department is developing our road safety strategy, and will set out more details in due course.

I can confirm the Department holds information on the number of objections made to Traffic Regulations Orders and is able to supply it in respect of any defined time period in the last 5 years.

This Government takes road safety seriously, and we are committed to reducing the numbers of those killed and injured on our roads. My Department is developing our road safety strategy and will set out more details in due course.

Whilst National Highways undertakes considerable work to use all intelligence and operational data to prevent suicide, it does not have definitive datasets on suicide related incidents on the Strategic Road Network (SRN) because classification of deaths is a matter for the Coroner. Every death on our roads is a tragedy and National Highways strives to prevent deaths and serious injuries whatever the cause.

This Government is committed to accelerating the roll out of charge points for electric vehicles. Guidance for local authorities to develop policies on the safe use of cross-pavement solutions will be published in due course.

The Department formally began recording apprenticeship data from 2017, following the publication of the Civil Service Apprenticeship Strategy. This data reflects DfTc, excluding the agencies.

The Department recognises the potentially transformative role that technologies such as Artificial Intelligence can play across all transport modes, including rail.

Within rail, these technologies have the potential to deliver step-change improvements in several areas, including to the passenger experience, train positioning and control, infrastructure and asset management, safety management, energy management and emissions control.

My officials continue to work closely with Shadow Great British Railways and other rail industry bodies including Network Rail and the Rail Safety and Standards Board to ensure that the benefits of these technologies are fully recognised and realised.

Improving local bus services is a key part of this government’s growth mission. The government will introduce a Buses Bill later this Parliamentary session. This will put the power over local bus services back in the hands of local leaders right across England, including in Ashfield and Mansfield, to choose the model that works best in their area, whether that be franchising, high-quality partnerships with private operators or local authority ownership.

Under franchising, the local authority has control of the bus network including setting routes, timetables and fares.

In addition, the government has confirmed £925 million for the 2025 to 2026 financial year to support and improve bus services in England outside London. Local authorities can use the £925 million to introduce new bus routes, make services more frequent and protect crucial bus routes for local communities.

The government will continue working closely with local transport authorities including Nottinghamshire County Council, and others, to deliver better bus services throughout England.

I have asked my officials to explore the feasibility of a range of technology options to improve passenger connectivity on the rail network. The Department is also measuring the strength of mobile signals along the rail network to fully understand where interventions are needed, and the potential impacts.