Asked by: Baroness Pidgeon (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to procure electric and battery-powered rolling stock as part of the move to Great British Railways.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Government recognises the potential for electric and battery-electric trains to reduce the long-term operating costs of the railway, to improve the service it provides for passengers and to meet our environmental obligations. We have committed to develop a long-term rolling stock and infrastructure strategy, the first in thirty years, which will place the needs of passengers at its heart and will pursue modern standards of carbon-friendly traction, passenger comfort and accessibility. As we develop this strategy, we will carefully consider the opportunity presented by electric and battery-electric trains, and the associated infrastructure requirements.
Asked by: Baroness Pidgeon (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have considered the extension of Heathrow Express paths to (1) Reading or (2) Surrey and Hampshire; and what assessment has been made of modal shift and other benefits of these options.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Government recognises the vital role that surface access will play as part of any future expansion of Heathrow Airport. As part of the review of the Airports National Policy Statement (ANPS), launched on 22 October 2025, we will consider all the transport infrastructure and supporting services required to support a third runway, including rail connectivity and mode share targets. This will include considering the impacts for travellers from different regions.
The Government has been clear that expansion must be affordable and delivered in the best interest of passengers. Scheme costs should be minimised and privately financed, including any surface transport costs.
While it would not be appropriate to pre-empt the outcome of the ANPS review at this stage, it will be the responsibility of any expansion promoter to set out a surface access strategy demonstrating how they will meet the requirements set out in the ANPS.
Asked by: Baroness Pidgeon (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of reducing speed limits on roads outside of schools to 20 miles per hour during school arrival and collection times.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Department for Transport has not conducted a specific assessment of the impact of reducing speed limits on roads outside of schools to 20 miles per hour during school arrival and collection times.
Asked by: Baroness Pidgeon (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the role of Heathrow Express for wider access to Heathrow as part of Heathrow expansion plans; and when this will be made publicly available.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
As part of the review of the Airports National Policy Statement (ANPS), launched on 22 October 2025, we will consider the transport infrastructure required to support a third runway, including rail connectivity and mode share targets.
Asked by: Baroness Pidgeon (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what measures they intend to implement to support schools in educating children about road safety and in reducing the number of road traffic accidents involving school children.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Government’s flagship road safety campaign THINK! provides a wide range of free educational resources to help improve children's road safety.
THINK! launched its ‘Safe Adventures’ campaign to help parents across the country prepare their children for independent travel ahead of moving to secondary school: This activity focuses on the risky behaviours assigned to child pedestrian casualties, which includes failing to look and distractions, finding a safe place to cross and being in a hurry.
The Government is also committed to Bikeability training, a national cycle training scheme funded by the Department, which to date has trained over 4 million children to cycle safely on today’s roads. Recent funding aims to train 1 million more.
Asked by: Baroness Pidgeon (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what mechanisms are in place to ensure a smooth transition of licensing and market management functions from the Rail Delivery Group to Great British Railways.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Under the government’s plans, the retail industry management functions currently performed by the Rail Delivery Group will move to Great British Railways. This includes the oversight and management of central systems that all retailers use, and the licensing of third parties to operate as rail ticket retailers.
We are working closely with industry partners to ensure transition plans are as smooth as possible.
Asked by: Baroness Pidgeon (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend responsibility for maintaining and updating the statutory code of practice for rail retailing to sit with the Office of Rail and Road once Great British Railways is operational.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The future rail retail industry code of practice will set out clear requirements for how Great British Railways (GBR) interacts with all market participants. It will be owned and managed by the ORR, and GBR’s licence will require compliance with it. The Railways Bill enables the Secretary of State to introduce the licence condition that will underpin the code of practice and give it force.
Asked by: Baroness Pidgeon (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to permit cross-subsidisation between Great British Railways' publicly funded operations and retail activities; and, if not, what measures will be put in place to prevent it.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The government is committed to a fair and open rail retail market, in which Great British Railways (GBR) will sell tickets alongside, and compete with, independent retailers. Moreover, the retail industry management functions currently performed by the Rail Delivery Group will move to GBR.
To ensure fairness when GBR takes on these functions, the government has announced a range of safeguards, including an industry code of practice. The code of practice will incorporate clear requirements for how GBR interacts with all market participants and impose separation of decision-making where relevant. It will be owned and managed by the ORR, and GBR’s licence will require compliance with it.
In carrying out its functions and duties, GBR will also be subject to relevant competition and subsidy control law.
Asked by: Baroness Pidgeon (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they expect Heathrow Airport (1) to model the impact of expansion on road traffic, (2) to reset mode share targets, and (3) to confirm that road traffic will not increase as a result of any expansion proposals, in line with commitments set out in the Department for Transport document Heathrow Northwest Runway: Connectivity published in 2016.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Any promoter of expansion at Heathrow will need to model the impact of expansion on roads around the airport as part of their Development Consent Order application. National Highways will also be consulted as part of this process.
Mode share targets and road traffic mitigations will also be considered as part of the Airports National Policy Statement review. This will be published for consultation by summer 2026.
Asked by: Baroness Pidgeon (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government when they will publish their strategic objectives for (1) passenger mode share, and (2) rail access, to Heathrow as part of the revised Airports National Policy Statement.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Government recognises the vital role that surface access will play as part of any future expansion of Heathrow Airport, and public transport including rail access will be a key part of this.
As part of the review of the Airports National Policy Statement (ANPS), launched on 22 October 2025, we will consider the Government’s strategic objectives for surface access, including public transport mode share targets and rail access. A draft ANPS will be published for consultation by summer 2026.