Asked by: Elliot Colburn (Conservative - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Government plans to extend the rental e-scooter trials beyond 31 May 2024.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The e-scooter trials were extended to 31 May 2024 to gather further evidence where gaps are identified, and to build on the findings of the current evaluation. No decision has been made on extending the trials beyond this date.
Asked by: Elliot Colburn (Conservative - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with (a) Transport for London (TfL) and (b) the London Borough of Sutton on (i) bus, (ii) rail and (iii) other public transport access requirements to the London Cancer Hub site.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
Transport in London is devolved and is the responsibility of the Mayor of London and Transport for London. However, the Department is currently in active discussions with Govia Thameslink Railway to investigate opportunities to improve rail services which will make the London Cancer Hub more accessible.
Asked by: Elliot Colburn (Conservative - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Government supports the delivery of the Croydon Area Remodelling Scheme; what financial settlement the Government plans to award Network Rail to deliver that scheme; and what his timeframe is for delivery of that scheme.
Answered by Wendy Morton
The Croydon Area Remodelling Scheme seeks to address capacity constraints and improve service performance on the Brighton main line. While this scheme would offer valuable improvements to services on the line, it will require a significant amount of public funding.
Although I am unable to discuss the status of individual projects in development at this time, it is becoming clear that the pandemic has brought about large change to commuting behaviours requiring government to make difficult decisions to bring rail spending back to affordable levels. I remain committed to publishing an update to the Rail Network Enhancement Portfolio, thereby confirming the status of individual schemes across England and Wales, including the Croydon Area Remodelling Scheme.
Asked by: Elliot Colburn (Conservative - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with Govia Thameslink Railway on restoring rail services to pre-pandemic levels, especially during peak hours, to and from (a) Carshalton, (b) Carshalton Beeches, (c) Hackbridge and (d) Wallington stations.
Answered by Wendy Morton
The level of peak services at these four stations is broadly similar to that offered in the December 2019 timetable (the most recent timetable not affected by the pandemic). Services are operated by Thameslink and Southern, and both are continuing to work collaboratively with Network Rail and across the industry to improve the punctuality and reliability of services.
As COVID-related restrictions have eased, the industry is adjusting service levels across the country. In line with the Department’s objectives, Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), which operates Thameslink and Southern services, is focusing on providing more capacity for commuters returning to the workplace. Its 15 May 2022 timetable change increases the frequency of weekday services where there was significant unmet demand. GTR aims to use its trains as efficiently as possible and reduce overlap where an alternative service exists. Across the GTR network, passenger numbers are approximately 70% of pre-pandemic levels.
Asked by: Elliot Colburn (Conservative - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with Govia Thameslink Railway on the (a) safety concerns regarding the gap between the train and the platform and (b) length of the platform at Hackbridge station; and whether his Department plans to offer assistance in tackling those concerns.
Answered by Wendy Morton
The Department is aware that for Southbound services at Hackbridge station, there is a larger than usual gap between the platform and the front of the train resulting from the age of the station. Network Rail has secured funding to deliver a full renewal of the platform which will reduce the gap. This will include a new platform edge, resurfacing and wider works to the track and track drainage. The platform has been fitted with signage advising customers of the gap and encouraging the use of doors further along the platform.
Asked by: Elliot Colburn (Conservative - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with (a) Network Rail, (b) Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), (c) Transport for London (TfL) and (d) the London Borough of Sutton about re-instating a dual track between Sutton and Belmont stations.
Answered by Wendy Morton
Officials in my Department contributed to the assessment of a Levelling Up Fund bid from the London Borough of Sutton in 2021, which sought funding to develop a proposal to re-instate double-tracking between Belmont and Sutton stations. This bid was ultimately unsuccessful, and feedback was provided to the London Borough of Sutton. Officials from my Department have recently agreed to meet with the London Borough of Sutton to discuss these proposals further.
Asked by: Elliot Colburn (Conservative - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has had discussions with Govia Thameslink Railway on step free access for the southbound platform at Carshalton Beeches station.
Answered by Wendy Morton
Carshalton Beeches station was nominated for Access for All funding in 2019 but was not selected as other stations in the region better met the selection criteria. The Department looks forward to receiving a further bid for Carshalton Beeches once the nomination process for the next round of the Access for All programme commences shortly.
Asked by: Elliot Colburn (Conservative - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to extend e-scooter trials beyond March 2022.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
The Department has in place a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation programme for the trials. This evaluation includes a range of data sources and approaches including data sharing arrangements with operators, surveys, interviews and focus groups with users and non-users and interviews with key local and national stakeholders. The evaluation will help us to understand any shift from other modes of transport to e-scooters. A final report will be published in spring 2022.
E-scooters are less polluting than petrol/diesel powered vehicles, so using an e-scooter instead of driving will reduce emissions and improve air quality. They may result in less congestion. A lot depends on mode shift. If people use an e-scooter instead of a car we will see environmental benefits. Our monitoring and evaluation programme is in place to assess the extent of modal shift.
Future decisions on e-scooters will be based on the evidence we gather in our trials. These decisions include what happens to trials after 31 March 2022. There are a number of potential options, but no decisions have yet been taken.
Asked by: Elliot Colburn (Conservative - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the impact of e-scooter trials on CO2 emissions.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
The Department has in place a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation programme for the trials. This evaluation includes a range of data sources and approaches including data sharing arrangements with operators, surveys, interviews and focus groups with users and non-users and interviews with key local and national stakeholders. The evaluation will help us to understand any shift from other modes of transport to e-scooters. A final report will be published in spring 2022.
E-scooters are less polluting than petrol/diesel powered vehicles, so using an e-scooter instead of driving will reduce emissions and improve air quality. They may result in less congestion. A lot depends on mode shift. If people use an e-scooter instead of a car we will see environmental benefits. Our monitoring and evaluation programme is in place to assess the extent of modal shift.
Future decisions on e-scooters will be based on the evidence we gather in our trials. These decisions include what happens to trials after 31 March 2022. There are a number of potential options, but no decisions have yet been taken.
Asked by: Elliot Colburn (Conservative - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of the end of e-scooter trials in March 2022 on rates of (a) car use, (b) bus use, (c) train use and (d) walking and cycling.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
The Department has in place a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation programme for the trials. This evaluation includes a range of data sources and approaches including data sharing arrangements with operators, surveys, interviews and focus groups with users and non-users and interviews with key local and national stakeholders. The evaluation will help us to understand any shift from other modes of transport to e-scooters. A final report will be published in spring 2022.
E-scooters are less polluting than petrol/diesel powered vehicles, so using an e-scooter instead of driving will reduce emissions and improve air quality. They may result in less congestion. A lot depends on mode shift. If people use an e-scooter instead of a car we will see environmental benefits. Our monitoring and evaluation programme is in place to assess the extent of modal shift.
Future decisions on e-scooters will be based on the evidence we gather in our trials. These decisions include what happens to trials after 31 March 2022. There are a number of potential options, but no decisions have yet been taken.