Asked by: Lord Blencathra (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether their franchise agreement with Avanti West Coast Trains contains conditions on the maintenance and repair of potholes in the car park at Penrith North Lakes railway station.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The current agreement with Avanti West Coast does not contain obligations regarding the maintenance and repair of potholes.
Avanti West Coast is responsible for the day-to-day management of Penrith North Lakes Station, including the car park. Responsibility for any repairs, including repairs to potholes, lies with the station’s landlord, Network Rail. Avanti West Coast works with Network Rail to seek improvements on behalf of passengers where this is required.
The Department will ask AWC to pass on to NR the concerns about potholes in the car park.
Asked by: Lord Blencathra (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to cover the route to the new taxi rank point from Euston railway station.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Network Rail manages Euston Station and work to improve the passenger experience at Euston is continuing.
As part of this, a range of ideas has been proposed, including potential enhancements to the route between the station and the taxi rank. Network Rail, under a ‘single guiding mind’ approach, is working with industry partners to assess the feasibility of these proposals and the overall benefits to passengers.
Asked by: Lord Blencathra (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what is the distance in metres between the disabled assistance room at Euston station and (1) the new taxi rank, and (2) the site of the old taxi pick-up point on Cardington Street.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The designated Mobility Assistance Taxi Bays remain on the western Euston Gardens site to help reduce the distance to the Mobility Assistance Reception in the station. This is approximately 120m from the Assisted Travel Lounge, similar to the previous facility, which was located underground (and which required use of a lift).
The distance to/from the Assisted Travel Lounge from the new eastern rank pick-up/drop-off points is approximately 275m and 252m respectively (via Doric passageway), though this is not the designated Mobility Assistance Taxi Bay.
Asked by: Lord Blencathra (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment has been made of the risk to pedestrians from crossing traffic to get to the new taxi rank point at Euston railway station.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
A full Road Safety Audit, as required by Transport for London, has been carried out on both crossing points (adjacent to Eversholt Street and adjacent to Euston Road). Both crossings were enhanced as part of the taxi rank design to improve safety for pedestrians, including widening the islands and changing the signal timings.
Asked by: Lord Blencathra (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to review the site of the taxi rank at Euston station.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The current taxi rank location is temporary to enable the construction of the HS2 station. Work is in progress to determine the new permanent location of the taxi rank.
In the interim, Transport for London are investigating potential improvements, such as changing turning priorities, having close regard to applicable road safety and highway management issues requirements.
Asked by: Lord Blencathra (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what consultation they had with (1) disabled users, and (2) the London taxi trade, before the creation of new taxi rank at Euston station.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
It was necessary to move the taxi rank from its previous Euston Square Gardens West location to enable construction of the HS2 station. The design of the new eastern rank, and its access, was the subject of extensive engagement with the taxi trade.
The final design was reviewed by the Network Rail’s Built Environment Accessibility Panel, an independent panel of experts that supports NR to plan spaces and places for everyone. It was also reviewed by HS2 Ltd’s Inclusive Design Lead, and NR Accessibility Lead.
The designated Mobility Assistance Taxi Bays remain on the western Euston Gardens site to cater for passengers with restricted mobility, as required by Network Rail.
Asked by: Lord Blencathra (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what was the business justification and cost of creating a new taxi rank at Euston station, and what representations they have received from taxi drivers who find it too difficult to use.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The taxi rank was relocated in April 2024 to enable the construction of the HS2 station. A number of studies were carried out to find a suitable location, concluding with the choice of Euston Square Gardens East which was agreed with Camden Council, Network Rail (NR) and Transport for London (TfL).
TfL have received representations from taxi drivers relating to issues accessing the rank from the west due to a banned left turn in to Eversholt Street and Churchway. These left turns were banned to improve road safety and to help manage traffic flow along the Inner London Ring Road.
Access was worsened for a temporary period prior to Christmas 2024 whilst urgent road works took place on Upper Woburn Place.
Asked by: Lord Blencathra (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Davies of Gower on 16 May (HL4323), why it will take until 2029 to replace the roof at Crewe Station.
Answered by Lord Davies of Gower - Shadow Minister (Home Office)
Network Rail are responsible for the scheduling of renewals and maintenance works and how to prioritise this funding across the region over the Control Period. Network Rail will need Listed Building Consent to carry out the works and will prepare a phased strategy which aligns the roof replacement with track renewals in order to minimise the customer impact.
Asked by: Lord Blencathra (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Davies of Gower on 16 May (HL4380), for what reason they do not have an inventory of pathways and roads that Network Rail have constructed next to railway lines; and what is the cost of the pathway being constructed south of Crewe Station.
Answered by Lord Davies of Gower - Shadow Minister (Home Office)
Network Rail has identified that it has an incomplete record of pathway assets, that is why it is undertaking a national project to address this.
The pathway south of Crewe Station has an anticipated cost of c.£600k.
Asked by: Lord Blencathra (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to expediting the application by Virgin Trains to run a service on the West Coast Main Line; and when they intend to announce their decision.
Answered by Lord Davies of Gower - Shadow Minister (Home Office)
We note with interest the reports in the media about the application from Virgin Trains, and welcome open access applications where they provide improved connectivity and choice for passengers and do not disproportionately impact taxpayers. Access to the rail network, however, is ultimately a decision for the Office of Rail and Road in its role as independent regulator for the rail industry. The Department therefore awaits further engagement from the ORR and Network Rail on Virgin’s proposals and will provide its views as part of the relevant industry consultation, as is standard process for all open access applications.