Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of improved on-train wi-fi services on discouraging less sustainable forms of travel.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
As part of the Spending Review business case assessing the value for money of delivering improved passenger internet connectivity, we assessed the positive benefits that can arise from ‘modal shift’, arising where people choose to travel by train in preference to using their cars. We followed standard transport appraisal and passenger demand forecast handbook guidance in our assessments.
Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the steps required to ensure that the improved Wi-Fi capacity enabled by recent investment in Low Earth Orbit connectivity can be delivered to passengers through compatible on-train equipment.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
My officials produced a detailed business case as part of the Spending Review to deploy low earth orbit satellite connections on all mainline trains to improve on train wifi connectivity for passengers. The team is currently working through establishing the procurement and delivery model. We issued a preliminary market engagement notice on gov.uk to begin engaging with industry on how improvements can be delivered to passengers through compatible on-train equipment.
Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether Great British Railways will be required to procure sufficient mobile data capacity to meet passenger expectations for on-train Wi-Fi across the network.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
While it is too early to confirm specific procurement requirements, improving Wi-Fi provision across the network will be a key part of future planning and engagement with industry partners.
Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a regulatory cap on intercity rail fares equivalent to that applied to regulated commuter fares.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
In general, commuter fares such as season tickets and shorter-distance peak returns are regulated, alongside intercity off-peak returns. Those are the fares that DfT currently controls, as part of an overly complex system that was designed 30 years ago.
As we set up GBR, we’re untangling this complex system of fares and ticketing, and bringing it into the 21st century. We know, for example, that the way in which people travel, including the types of routes on which they commute, has changed over time.
We are already taking important steps to address some of these challenges.
This includes reforming long distance fares, as demonstrated through the LNER trial on some of their long-distance network, to move away from the inefficient and unacceptable situation where some “peak” trains run nearly empty whilst some “off-peak” trains are crowded. At the heart of this is making more flexible products available to passengers, and making it easier to choose cheaper, less busy trains, putting passenger choice first and tackling overcrowding.
LNER regularly report on the trial to demonstrate they are meeting their commitment to ensure a greater number of affordable tickets are available to passengers.
Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the difference between regulated commuter fares and unregulated intercity fares on passengers; and whether she plans to review that distinction.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
In general, commuter fares such as season tickets and shorter-distance peak returns are regulated, alongside intercity off-peak returns. These are the fares that DfT currently controls, as part of an overly complex system that was designed 30 years ago and which currently does not make sense.
We are already taking important steps to address some of these challenges. Through the LNER trial on some of the long-distance network, we are moving away from the inefficient and unacceptable situation where some “peak” trains run nearly empty whilst some “off-peak” trains are crowded. We aim to make more flexible products available to passengers, and making it easier to choose cheaper, less busy trains, putting passenger choice first and tackling overcrowding.
LNER regularly report on the trial to demonstrate they are meeting their commitment to ensure more affordable tickets are available to passengers.
Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to ensure that intercity rail fares remain affordable for passengers in the context of unregulated peak-time pricing on long-distance services.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
We are taking important steps to reform long distance fares, as demonstrated through the LNER trial on some of their long-distance network. This includes moving away from the inefficient and unacceptable situation where some “peak” trains run nearly empty whilst some “off-peak” trains are crowded. At the heart of this trial is making more flexible products available to passengers, and making it easier to choose cheaper, less busy trains, putting passenger choice first and tackling overcrowding
LNER regularly report on the trial to demonstrate they are meeting their commitment to ensure more affordable tickets are available to passengers.
Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what proportion of intercity fares are in the unregulated category; and what the average percentage increase was in those fares over the last five years.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The ORR publish annual statistics measuring the change in prices charged by train operating companies to rail passengers, normally introduced in March of each year. According to ORR data regulated fares make up around 30 per cent of rail expenditure. On intercity routes this includes season tickets, where they are offered, and off-peak returns. Where there are no return fares, the off-peak single fare is regulated.
Between 2019/20 and 2024/25, nominal regional unregulated standard fares have risen by 24 per cent with regional unregulated first-class fares rising by 26 per cent. Over the same period nominal regional regulated standard fares have risen by 21 per cent.
Over the same period, nominal Long Distance unregulated standard fares have risen by 24 per cent with long distance unregulated first-class fares rising by 33 per cent. Over the same period nominal Long Distance regulated standard fares have risen by 24 per cent.
Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department plans to extend fare regulation to intercity tickets, including peak-time and last-minute fares.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
In general, commuter fares such as season tickets and shorter-distance peak returns are regulated, alongside intercity off-peak returns. Those are the fares that DfT currently controls, as part of an overly complex system that was designed 30 years ago.
As we set up GBR, we’re untangling this complex system of fares and ticketing, and bringing it into the 21st century. We know, for example, that the way in which people travel, including the types of routes on which they commute, has changed over time.
We are already taking important steps to address some of these challenges.
This includes reforming long distance fares, as demonstrated through the LNER trial on some of their long-distance network, to move away from the inefficient and unacceptable situation where some “peak” trains run nearly empty whilst some “off-peak” trains are crowded. At the heart of this is making more flexible products available to passengers, and making it easier to choose cheaper, less busy trains, putting passenger choice first and tackling overcrowding.
LNER regularly report on the trial to demonstrate they are meeting their commitment to ensure a greater number of affordable tickets are available to passengers.
Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of dynamic pricing on intercity rail routes on fare predictability and passenger affordability; and if she will consider introducing statutory limits on such pricing.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
We are taking important steps to reform long distance fares, as demonstrated through the LNER trial on some of their long-distance network. This includes moving away from the inefficient and unacceptable situation where some “peak” trains run nearly empty whilst some “off-peak” trains are crowded. At the heart of this trial is making more flexible products available to passengers, and making it easier to choose cheaper, less busy trains, putting passenger choice first and tackling overcrowding
LNER regularly report on the trial to demonstrate they are meeting their commitment to ensure more affordable tickets are available to passengers.
Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of unregulated peak-time fares on intercity rail services on modal shift and environmental goals.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Over the past 30 years, privatisation has complicated fares leading to pricing cliff edges and to the inefficient and unacceptable situation where some ‘peak’ trains run nearly empty while some ‘off-peak’ trains are overcrowded. This is why we are overhauling it and are already making positive progress.
We are supporting London North Eastern Railway (LNER) with trialling a new fares structure which introduces more flexible products for passengers, making it easier to choose cheaper, less busy trains, putting passenger choice first and tackling overcrowding.
LNER regularly report on the trial to demonstrate it is meeting its commitment to ensure more affordable tickets are available to passengers.