Asked by: Chris Evans (Labour (Co-op) - Caerphilly)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions her Department has had with relevant stakeholders on the potential for a direct rail link between South Wales and Heathrow Airport.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department regularly engages with stakeholders on transport to Heathrow, in line with the Statement of Approach to engagement during the ANPS review. The Government recognises the vital role that surface access will play as part of any future expansion of Heathrow Airport. As part of the review of the Airports National Policy Statement (ANPS), launched on 22 October 2025, we will consider the transport infrastructure required to support a third runway, including rail connectivity and mode share targets. This will include considering the impacts for travellers from different regions.
The Government has been clear that expansion must be affordable and delivered in the best interest of passengers. Scheme costs should be minimised and financed through private funding, including any surface transport costs.
While it would not be appropriate to pre-empt the outcome of the ANPS review at this stage, it will be the responsibility of any expansion promoter to set out a surface access strategy demonstrating how they will meet the requirements set out in the ANPS.
Asked by: Chris Evans (Labour (Co-op) - Caerphilly)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she is planning to improve rail links between South Wales and a) Gatwick and b) Heathrow.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
This Government is continuing to invest in the UK rail network at record levels, including at least £445 million of investment in the rail network in Wales announced at the Spending Review and backed up by the Prime Minister's recent endorsement of the Transport for Wales vision for the future of Welsh rail. This will support the creation of thousands of jobs, the building of new homes and improving opportunities for communities all across Wales.
Since December an additional late evening service has been added on the line between Reading and Gatwick Airport allowing more opportunities for passengers from South Wales to get to the airport. In the future, passengers from South Wales may be able to change trains at the new Old Oak Common station for fast and frequent connections to Heathrow Airport once main line trains begin stopping there.
Asked by: Chris Evans (Labour (Co-op) - Caerphilly)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to mitigate risks posed to public transport workers who are lone working.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Department wants everyone to feel and be safe on the public transport network, and we are working across government and with partners, including the British Transport Police (BTP), the transport industry, and local authorities to this end.
On the railways, there are robust safety arrangements in place to support staff who are operating independently and alone, whether they be track workers, station staff, train guards, or signallers, among other roles. These arrangements are mandatory due to the strong statutory safety duties that apply to operators and employers on the railway. To mitigate the risks associated with lone working, the industry is implementing various measures to improve safety and security.
The BTP are the dedicated police force responsible for policing the railway in England, Scotland and Wales. Their officers patrol the network 24/7 to provide reassurance to passengers and staff and deter criminals from offending. BTP also work closely with the rail industry to encourage staff to report offences so they can take action against offenders. Reporting can be done by texting 61016, calling 0800 405040 or calling 999 in an emergency.
As part of the Departmental transport commitments outlined in the recently published Action Plan of the Government's ‘Freedom from violence and abuse: a cross-government strategy,’ the Department is currently exploring expanding the provision and use of CCTV on the bus network, to increase feelings of safety and reduce the length of investigations.
Asked by: Chris Evans (Labour (Co-op) - Caerphilly)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing transport fee concessions to all assistants of a disabled individual where that individual requires more than one assistant to use public transport.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani
This Government is determined to make sure that disabled people have the same access to transport as everyone else, and that they are able to travel easily, confidently, and without extra cost. The Disabled Persons Railcard entitles disabled people and a carer to a third off their rail fares, and the Government provides around £1 billion of funding each year to enable local authorities in England to provide statutory and discretionary concessions for 9.8 million disabled and older travel pass holders.
Local authorities are able to offer additional local bus concessions, such as companion passes for disabled people who require assistance to travel. The detail of such further concessions, including the number of carers who can travel at reduced cost, is a matter for local authorities.
In the Inclusive Transport Strategy, published in July 2018, we committed to conduct a review into the eligibility criteria of the Disabled Persons Railcard. This review will examine the issue of the total ticket cost for a disabled person and their carers.
Asked by: Chris Evans (Labour (Co-op) - Caerphilly)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her department is taking to ensure that the cost of public transport is affordable for people with disabilities who require assistance when travelling.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani
This Government is determined to make sure that disabled people have the same access to transport as everyone else, and that they are able to travel easily, confidently, and without extra cost.
In 2017/18 the Government provided around £1 billion of funding to enable local authorities in England to provide statutory and discretionary concessions for 9.8 million disabled and older travel pass holders. The Government has committed to maintaining this concession. Concessionary bus travel is a devolved policy area so the legislative and administrative arrangements differ throughout the UK, and local authorities are also able to offer additional concessions, such as companion passes for disabled people who require assistance to travel.
The Disabled Persons Railcard allows disabled people to get one third off their rail fares. The Government made a commitment in the Inclusive Transport Strategy that it would work with the Rail Delivery Group and the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee to review the eligibility criteria for it.
In 2019, the Department will launch a major public awareness campaign, which, among other things, will seek to increase awareness and take up of these and other forms of assistance for disabled passengers.
Asked by: Chris Evans (Labour (Co-op) - Caerphilly)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of (a) a phased reduction of toll fees over a period of several years and (b) other alternatives to the abolition of tolls on the M4 second Severn Crossing on 31 December 2018.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
Prior to the Severn Crossings consultation in 2017 the Government undertook traffic modelling and economic appraisal to assess the impact of the policy to continue tolling at a reduced rate, and on the possible option of free-flow tolling. No modelling was done on a phased reduction in tolls over a period of several years.
The consultation found that interested local parties, including MPs, Assembly Members, businesses and commuters have long called for the abolition of the tolls. In view of that we decided not to press ahead with halving the tolls but instead committed to abolishing the tolls entirely by the end of 2018.
The current tolling arrangements at the crossings interrupt traffic flow, leading to start/stop journeys and delays caused by drivers stopping to pay at the barriers. These queues average around 3 minutes. Removal of the barriers will result in improved journey times and reduced delays at the crossings, benefiting most drivers and will also help tackle peak time congestion at the crossings.
Asked by: Chris Evans (Labour (Co-op) - Caerphilly)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans his Department has to minimise disruption to road users arising from the removal of toll booths and plazas as a result of the abolition of tolls on the M4 second Severn Crossing on 31 December 2018.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
Highways England are preparing the detailed plans for the removal of the M4 and M48 toll plazas and booths, as soon as it is safely practicable to do so, after tolls cease.
Highways England is developing a scheme that removes the charge and provides three lanes of free flowing traffic by 1 January 2019. It is highly likely that this solution will require traffic to be managed by a controlled speed environment as an interim measure whilst the remainder of the toll plaza is removed.
All works will be designed to ensure safety for staff and road users and to avoid disruption wherever possible.
Upon completion of the detailed design Highways England will make these plans available to stakeholders.
Asked by: Chris Evans (Labour (Co-op) - Caerphilly)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the evidential basis is for the abolition of tolls on the M4 second Severn Crossing leading to a reduction in peak-time congestion on the M4 between Bristol and Cardiff.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
Prior to the Severn Crossings consultation in 2017 the Government modelled several policy options.
Modelling results for future traffic and congestion impacts are available for certain strategic roads, including the M4 between Bristol and Cardiff, comparing toll levels prior to the recent end of concession continuing and a scenario with no toll from 2018. For 2022, with the previously existing toll, the modelling shows a section of the M4 adjacent to Bristol, specifically between junctions 20 and 21 westbound, would be operating with traffic levels above free flow capacity. With no toll, the modelling shows that the free flow capacity is exceeded more often.
The removal of toll barriers is expected to speed up traffic in the immediate vicinity of the crossing, since there will no longer be a need to queue to pay.
The modelling enabled estimates to be made of economic benefits from the no-toll scenario. This reflects the increased affordability following the abolition of tolls at the end of 2018 accruing to users of the crossing in both directions. This will support motorists, residents and businesses across Wales and the south-west, helping rebalance the economy as part of the Industrial Strategy.
Asked by: Chris Evans (Labour (Co-op) - Caerphilly)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what traffic modelling his Department has carried out to predict the effect of the abolition of tolls on the M4 second Severn Crossing on levels of road congestion on the M4 between Bristol and Cardiff.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
Prior to the Severn Crossings consultation in 2017 the Government modelled several policy options.
Modelling results for future traffic and congestion impacts are available for certain strategic roads, including the M4 between Bristol and Cardiff, comparing toll levels prior to the recent end of concession continuing and a scenario with no toll from 2018. For 2022, with the previously existing toll, the modelling shows a section of the M4 adjacent to Bristol, specifically between junctions 20 and 21 westbound, would be operating with traffic levels above free flow capacity. With no toll, the modelling shows that the free flow capacity is exceeded more often.
The removal of toll barriers is expected to speed up traffic in the immediate vicinity of the crossing, since there will no longer be a need to queue to pay.
The modelling enabled estimates to be made of economic benefits from the no-toll scenario. This reflects the increased affordability following the abolition of tolls at the end of 2018 accruing to users of the crossing in both directions. This will support motorists, residents and businesses across Wales and the south-west, helping rebalance the economy as part of the Industrial Strategy.
Asked by: Chris Evans (Labour (Co-op) - Caerphilly)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the effect of the abolition of the M4 second Severn Crossing tolls on 31 December 2018 on levels of road congestion on the M4 between Bristol and Cardiff.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
Prior to the Severn Crossings consultation in 2017 the Government modelled several policy options.
Modelling results for future traffic and congestion impacts are available for certain strategic roads, including the M4 between Bristol and Cardiff, comparing toll levels prior to the recent end of concession continuing and a scenario with no toll from 2018. For 2022, with the previously existing toll, the modelling shows a section of the M4 adjacent to Bristol, specifically between junctions 20 and 21 westbound, would be operating with traffic levels above free flow capacity. With no toll, the modelling shows that the free flow capacity is exceeded more often.
The removal of toll barriers is expected to speed up traffic in the immediate vicinity of the crossing, since there will no longer be a need to queue to pay.
The modelling enabled estimates to be made of economic benefits from the no-toll scenario. This reflects the increased affordability following the abolition of tolls at the end of 2018 accruing to users of the crossing in both directions. This will support motorists, residents and businesses across Wales and the south-west, helping rebalance the economy as part of the Industrial Strategy.