Asked by: Lord Scriven (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government, in relation to contracts to supply and maintain Class 810 "Aurora" rolling stock for East Midlands Railway on the Midland Main Line, whether Hitachi Rail is required to provide sufficient serviceable trains to meet the timetable commitments of the train operator; and if so, whether (1) Hitachi Rail is required to pay compensation to East Midlands Railway when it fails to do so, (2) this applies for every affected journey, and (3) this includes liquidated damages to compensate for loss to the train operator's business, including losses incurred by refunding passengers for cancellations or service disruption.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Class 810 Aurora fleet is being delivered and maintained under contractual arrangements involving East Midlands Railway (EMR), Hitachi Rail and Rock Rail. Those agreements include contractual obligations relating to train availability and performance, together with associated performance and remedy mechanisms where contractual requirements are not met. The detailed terms of those arrangements, including any compensation or liquidated damages provisions, are commercially confidential and are not publicly disclosed.
The Department has been clear to Hitachi Rail that its management of the Class 810 fleet programme has been unacceptable. Delivery of the new Aurora trains to EMR has been significantly delayed, with the first train entering passenger service around three years later than originally planned. The Department expects Hitachi Rail to improve both the rate of fleet introduction and the operational performance of the trains already in service.
Hitachi Rail is also responsible for the day-to-day maintenance of EMR’s existing Class 222 Meridian trains, which have experienced significant performance issues this summer. The Department expects Hitachi and EMR to work together to rapidly improve the reliability of these trains.
Alex Hynes, Chief Executive Officer of Department for Transport Operator, meets Hitachi Rail regularly and is pressing the company for urgent improvements to both the delivery pipeline and fleet performance so that EMR can realise the full benefits of the new Aurora fleet. The Department continues to monitor EMR's delivery of services and performance obligations under its National Rail Contract.
Asked by: Lord Scriven (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to ask the Office of Rail and Road to re-evaluate the open access application by Hull Trains to operate services between London King's Cross and Sheffield, in light of the reductions to East Midlands Railway’s Intercity timetable.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Hull Trains’ previous application to operate services between London and Sheffield was rejected by the Office or Rail and Road (ORR) in July 2025 due to concerns over capacity, performance and financial impacts. We respect the ORR’s decision on this.
Any Open Access operator may apply to operate new services, but this would be a commercial decision for the operator to take. Under the current system, any new application would be subject to full and independent review by the ORR. In the future, Great British Railways will be able to decide the best use of network capacity and take decisions as a directing mind.
Asked by: Lord Scriven (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of compliance by airlines with the Air Passenger Rights and Air Travel Organisers’ Licensing (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019; and what steps they are taking to ensure that airlines do not misinform UK passengers regarding their eligibility for compensation for flights departing from UK airports.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
In the UK, Regulation (EC) 261/2004 sets out passenger rights in the event of certain flight disruptions. This includes a requirement for airlines to provide affected passengers with information on their rights.
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is responsible for ensuring airlines meet their obligations under the Regulation. It is currently undertaking a Regulation 261/2004 compliance programme to assess airline performance.
The CAA also published research in July 2025 as part of its work programme aiming to improve industry communications with consumers during disruption. This makes 12 recommendations for airlines, focusing on the timing, content and channels of communication that should be used during disruption.
In addition, the CAA and the Department have published guidance that helps passengers understand their rights when flying.
Asked by: Lord Scriven (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the value for money of public investment in the reopening of Doncaster Sheffield Airport, in particular the clause in the proposed lease agreement that would grant the landowner 20 per cent of the airport's future annual turnover; and whether that 20 per cent will apply to revenue from government grants and other public funding provided to the airport operator.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Government is backing the Mayor of South Yorkshire's plans to reopen Doncaster Sheffield Airport. Decisions on the use of devolved funding and any associated commercial arrangements sit with the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority and its members under their devolved responsibilities.
Asked by: Lord Scriven (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether a direct train service between Sheffield and Manchester Airport will be reintroduced as part of the Northern Growth Strategy.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
As part of the third phase of NPR, we will deliver better cross-Pennine links over and above the Transpennine Route Upgrade already underway, of which Manchester-Sheffield is a key part. NPR will unlock economic growth benefits by improving connectivity to Manchester Airport from across the North, including a new Manchester Airport station. Further details, including of future services, will be confirmed following engagement with local leaders on priorities and specific infrastructure choices.
Asked by: Lord Scriven (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what (1) economic, and (2) social, impact assessment they made in the decision to pause the next phase of electrification of the Midland Mainline.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The electrification of the Midland Main Line that is complete will enable bi-mode intercity trains to operate in electric traction between St Pancras and Wigston. These new trains will have more seats and will provide a step change in passenger experience.
Continuing electrification to Nottingham and Sheffield was considered in the Spending Review, which prioritised investment across all government spending, taking account of business cases and affordability, including economic and social impacts.
The next phase of electrification has been paused as it is lower value for money, partly due to rising costs and partly as a consequence of having already delivered substantial electrification, but we will continue to keep it under review as part of our longer-term pipeline of schemes.
Asked by: Lord Scriven (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill on 29 July 2024 (HL238), what assessment they have made of whether East Midlands Railway is still running trains with faulty air conditioning, resulting in staff and passengers travelling in high temperatures.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Department is aware of occasions where the air conditioning has failed within one of the carriages on an East Midlands Railway (EMR) train whilst in service. When this occurs the train conductor helps passengers find alternative seats in a cooler carriage and offers water to those who decide to remain in the affected carriage. Excessive temperature is one factor that is measured through the Service Quality Regime to ensure timely rectification of a fault by train operators.
Asked by: Lord Scriven (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of impact of the East Midlands Railways delaying the introduction of Class 810 Aurora trains and potentially returning some of Class 222 trains to leasing company on (1) passenger capacity on the Midland Main Line, and (2) the train times of (a) the operators to whom the Class 222 trains are expected to be leased, and (b) the Midland Main Line.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
In collaboration with industry partners, East Midlands Railway are considering all factors, including minimising the impacts on passengers, in relation to their fleet transition. There has been no assessment by the Department of the train times to whom the Class 222s are expected to be leased.
Asked by: Lord Scriven (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government when East Midlands Railway's fleet of Class 810 Aurora trains which were meant to enter service in May will now be introduced into passenger service.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Class 810 ‘Aurora’ trains are currently undergoing testing by Hitachi, and we expect the first units to be delivered to East Midlands Railway in the Autumn, with a phased roll-out during 2026.
Asked by: Lord Scriven (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Hanson of Flint on 4 March (HL5190), whether any official or minister of the Department for Transport, acting as part of the Manchester Task Force, formally agreed to the decisions that caused the direct train service between Sheffield and Manchester Airport to be withdrawn from service.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Manchester Task Force was made up of Department for Transport (DfT) officials and representatives from Network Rail, train operators, Rail North Partnership (RNP), Transport for the North (TfN) and Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM). The task force also had the benefit from expert industry analysis and insight.
After gathering evidence, developing options and consulting with stakeholders and passengers, it identified a range of short and long-term actions to improve the performance of the railway in Manchester and thereby across the North and to support future growth in passengers.
The Task Force formulated a series of recommendations with input from DfT officials and officers from TfN, TfGM and RNP on which Ministers and Northern leaders made a decision on a new timetable.