Asked by: Lord Bradshaw (Liberal Democrat - 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 30 January (HL1680), how the current quality of service provided by train operating companies can be assessed when service quality regime scores for April-October 2023 are only now under evaluation.
Answered by Lord Davies of Gower - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department regularly assesses the quality of service provided by the train operators, including through independent inspections that take place across the network every Rail Period, which is typically every 28 days. The results are used to inform frequent performance discussions and are published online for passengers.
Performance Fees for service quality are based on scores achieved over a longer Assessment Period. This is annual in the current National Rail Contracts and was bi-annual in previous contracts.
Asked by: Lord Bradshaw (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether, when life-expired railway infrastructure is being replaced, present appraisal methodology provides for the replacement infrastructure to reflect the current speeds and braking characteristics of modern trains.
Answered by Lord Davies of Gower - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The need to replace railway infrastructure is determined by regular inspections and reviews of the current state of the network. These test that the infrastructure is sufficient to safely and reliably support the type and speed of trains that it is intended to allow the operation of.
Asked by: Lord Bradshaw (Liberal Democrat - 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 24 January (HL1400), who pays for repairs to damaged rolling stock, in particular between Cardiff and London.
Answered by Lord Davies of Gower - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Train operators are responsible for meeting the costs involved in maintaining their fleets in accordance with the leasing and operating arrangements they have in place with the rolling stock owners.
Asked by: Lord Bradshaw (Liberal Democrat - 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 24 January (HL1399), whether they have access to information on the amount of money being refunded under the delay replay scheme as a result of disrupted rail services.
Answered by Lord Davies of Gower - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department publishes annual figures on the amount of compensation paid by train operating companies to passengers. These figures include delay compensation paid out under the Delay Repay and Traditional Charter schemes when passengers’ journeys are disrupted by delays or cancellations; and discretionary compensation that is paid following complaints of poor service, for example when toilets on the train aren’t working.
Asked by: Lord Bradshaw (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers by Baroness Vere of Norbiton on 14 July 2023 (HL8970) and Lord Davies of Gower on 24 January (HL1398), when is the earliest date by which additional rolling stock will be made available on the Cross Country network.
Answered by Lord Davies of Gower - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
CrossCountry is working with industry partners to acquire additional trains as they become available within the rolling stock market. CrossCountry is assessing whether it would be possible to operate a small number of additional trains during 2024 to deliver additional capacity, subject to their availability, the contractual terms with the rolling stock owner and an appropriate business case. All trains in the CrossCountry fleet are also due to be refurbished to improve passengers’ on-board experience.
Asked by: Lord Bradshaw (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether a train service specification had been developed for the TransPennine route upgrade prior to the commencement of the works.
Answered by Lord Davies of Gower - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Train service specifications were produced whilst the TransPennine Route Upgrade programme was at the development stage, before the commencement of programme delivery. However, these specifications continue to be refined as programme design matures to ensure the most efficient use of programme resources and funding.