Asked by: Lord Moylan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether XC Trains Limited were in default of their contract regarding any of their contractual performance indicators in (1) October 2024 (2) November 2024 and (3) December 2024; and, if so, whether they were given relief from such defaults through an extended remedial agreement.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
All operators are required to meet their contractual obligations as set out in their National Rail Contract, including contractual performance indicators. Failure to comply with those contractual obligations, once Force Majeure claims have been taken into account, leaves operators open to enforcement action.
The Department is currently assessing if XC Trains Limited exceeded the default threshold, for any of the relevant indicators in these periods, once Force Majeure claims have been taken into account.
The current Remedial Agreement with XC Trains Limited that was agreed in August 2024 runs until March 2025. There has been no amendment to the existing Remedial Agreement.
Asked by: Lord Moylan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to extend the current remedial agreement or agree a new remedial agreement with XC Trains Limited beyond March 2025.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The current Remedial Agreement with XC Trains Limited that was agreed in August 2024 runs until March 2025. The Department is considering what further actions might be appropriate, if any.
Asked by: Lord Moylan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government, following the publication of the remedial agreement letter between the Secretary of State and XC Trains Limited, whether they will release in full the redacted ‘Annex – 1: Remedial Commitments’ to ensure transparency as to what XC Trains is contracted to do and by when.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Remedial Agreement letter has been published on the .gov website. Redactions have been made using the exemptions permitted under both section 40(2) (personal information) and 43(2) (commercially prejudicial information) of the Freedom of Information Act. A public interest test was conducted as part of the consideration process. The Remedial Agreement runs until March 2025.
Asked by: Lord Moylan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they expect XC Trains Limited to meet its contractual commitments to deliver the May 2025 timetable uplift or whether they have requested any alterations to the CrossCountry timetable from May 2025; and, if so, whether any such requests have been agreed.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
All operators are required to meet their contractual obligations as set out in their National Rail Contract. Failure to comply with those contractual obligations leaves operators open to enforcement action.
It is public knowledge that CrossCountry is both reinstating services on some routes and amending the times of some services from May 2025. The Department has not agreed any alterations to the CrossCountry May 2025 timetable.
Asked by: Lord Moylan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government which train operating companies they intend to bring under public ownership first, following the introduction of the Passenger Railway Services Bill.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Secretary of State announced on 4 December that, under the Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Act 2024, South Western Railway’s services will transfer into public ownership on 25 May 2025, followed by c2c’s on 20 July 2025 and Greater Anglia’s in autumn 2025.
Asked by: Lord Moylan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to their announcement on 17 November regarding £1 billion in funding for bus services, when they will publish the formula for allocation.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The way funding has been allocated to local authorities represents a change from previous methodologies to a fairer and simpler system, moving away from a competitive process. This funding for local authorities to deliver their Bus Service Improvement Plans has been allocated based on local needs, considering three factors, equally weighted. These are:
Asked by: Lord Moylan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the economic impact on the south-east of England of planned strikes on London Underground services.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Transport in London is devolved to the Mayor and TfL. Thanks to constructive dialogue between TfL and the unions the strikes planned by both RMT and ASLEF for early November have now been called off.
Asked by: Lord Moylan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Arup report Opportunity through connectivity: Catalysing economic growth through a Midlands-North West Rail Link, published in September, what assessment they have made of proposals for an affordable Midlands-North West rail link.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Government is currently reviewing the position it has inherited on rail infrastructure and will consider how to address capacity needs and support economic growth in and between the North and the Midlands, whilst maintaining fiscal discipline.
We will set out next steps in due course.
Asked by: Lord Moylan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of how a simplified licensing process for powered light vehicles would impact (1) the uptake of powered light vehicles, (2) the accessibility of cheaper forms of personal mobility, and (3) the decarbonisation of road transport.
Answered by Lord Davies of Gower - Shadow Minister (Home Office)
The Government has collected robust evidence on the use of different regulatory regimes, including licensing, to support the previously announced Low-speed Zero Emission Vehicle category. Any assessment of evidence would be published as part of a consultation on regulations before they come into force and will be brought forward when parliamentary time allows. The Government has made no assessment of how changes to licensing might impact the uptake of L-category vehicles.
Asked by: Lord Moylan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have made an assessment of how the Motorcycle Industry Association’s proposals to incentivise the progressive access licensing route would impact road safety.
Answered by Lord Davies of Gower - Shadow Minister (Home Office)
In December 2023, officials met with motorcycle stakeholder representatives to listen to and discuss various motorcycle initiatives including ideas for reform. Discussions continue, and a roundtable with Ministerial attendance is scheduled for the 8th of May.