Asked by: Alex Norris (Labour (Co-op) - Nottingham North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate has he made of the difference between the average maintenance cost per kilometre of track to Network Rail of franchises operating (a) dedicated intercity electric trains and (b) bi-mode trains.
Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Department assessed the impact of electric and bi-mode trains using track access charges rates determined by the ORR for the current Control Period. The estimate contributed to the assessment that ordering bi-mode trains provides value for money to the taxpayer.
Asked by: Alex Norris (Labour (Co-op) - Nottingham North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment has he made of the potential effect of diesel particulates from bi-mode trains on the health of (a) passengers, (b) railway workers and (c) people who live near to railway lines.
Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The new bi-mode trains will be cleaner than the diesel trains that they replace. In addition, when running on the electrified part of the network the engines can be switched off completely and therefore will not produce any diesel particulates.
The table below shows the emissions standards met by Intercity Express Train (Class 800) rolling stock. From 2017, Class 800 trains will progressively replace Class 43 rolling stock on the network (also shown below):
Train class | Year manufactured | Engine emissions standard | Particulate Matter emissions standard | Nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions standard |
Class 800 – Intercity Express Train | 2015 onwards | EU NRMM Stage IIIB | 0.025 g/kWh (grams per kilowatt hour) | 4.0 g/kWh |
Class 43 – High Speed Train | 1975-1982 (re-engined in 2005-2010) | UIC II (following engine overhaul in 2000s) | 0.250 g/kWh | 9.5 g/kWh |
The standards shown above are maximum emission levels, shown in grams per unit of energy (kilowatt hours). Class 800 trains can operate under diesel or overhead electrical power; the above data relates to diesel operation only.
Asked by: Alex Norris (Labour (Co-op) - Nottingham North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if will issue statutory guidance to licensing authorities requiring disability equality training as a license condition for all drivers.
Answered by John Hayes
Taxi and private hire vehicle (PHV) services must be accessible to those who rely upon them, and disability awareness training can be effective in equipping drivers with the skills and knowledge to provide all passengers with the assistance they require. The Department is currently considering the responses to the consultation on the draft Accessibility Action Plan which will inform the updated Best Practice Guidance for taxi and PHV licensing authorities. It is the Department’s expectation that the guidance will include a recommendation that authorities should use their existing powers to require prospective drivers to complete disability awareness and equality training.
There are however no existing powers to give this guidance statutory status.
I announced in a Westminster Hall debate that I would be setting up a working group to consider current issues concerning taxi and PHV licensing. That group will report its findings to me in the new year.
Asked by: Alex Norris (Labour (Co-op) - Nottingham North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether all rolling stock on the Midlands Mainline will be compliant with modern accessibility standards by 1 January 2020.
Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
It is the responsibility for the operator of the East Midlands franchise to ensure the trains which are currently operated on the Midland Mainline meet modern accessibility standards by 2020. Any trains being introduced on to the line must also be built or modified to be compliant with those standards.
Asked by: Alex Norris (Labour (Co-op) - Nottingham North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the (a) cost and (b) effect on the environment of the development of bi-modal trains?
Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
Rolling Stock is procured through a competitive process to achieve best value for money. The Government has been clear that bi-modes are likely to be more expensive than electric only trains, but do provide valuable flexibility. New diesels deliver an overall better environmental performance than existing diesel trains because they are subject to the latest emission standards but also offer the flexibility to operate in electric mode where there are electric wires.
Asked by: Alex Norris (Labour (Co-op) - Nottingham North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department has taken to prepare for the two-year gap between current high speed trains becoming non-compliant in 2020 and new bi-mode trains being available in 2022.
Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
Any trains in passenger service after 31 December 2019 must comply with modern accessibility standards. The Department is closely monitoring the progress that industry and operators are making to ensure that the rights of passengers are protected by upgrading and renewing older rolling stock which will continue in service or replacing non-compliant trains by the end of 2019.
Asked by: Alex Norris (Labour (Co-op) - Nottingham North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress is being made on developing alternative fuel trains.
Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Department is committed to improving energy efficiency as well as reducing emissions and the carbon impacts of transport.
The Department supported a recent successful trial of an independently powered train, an electric train with batteries to enable it to run across the entire rail network. It is also introducing Bi-Mode trains so that it is no longer necessary to run diesel power units when trains are running on electrified sections of the network. It is also closely monitoring trials in Germany of a hydrogen fuel cell powered train, which could be used on the UK rail network.
The Department funds the industry to conduct research; particularly to support the Industry Technical Strategy, which has objectives to develop new, efficient, clean power sources.
Asked by: Alex Norris (Labour (Co-op) - Nottingham North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the costs and benefits of rail franchising.
Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The benefits of franchising to passengers and taxpayers are clear. The private sector have invested billions in new trains. Government subsidy to the industry has reduced by £2.5bn over ten years. Whilst passenger numbers have doubled since privatisation.
All this is on top of our ongoing £38bn investment in infrastructure. We always assess franchising decisions against the best interests of passengers and taxpayers.