Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to Answer of 11 November 2024 to Question12278 on Rolling Stock, whether a rolling stock strategy will be published before the establishment of Great British Railways.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department for Transport is developing a Rolling Stock Strategy. This will align with the wider objectives of the industry in ending the current variability in production rates and ensuring a stable pipeline of work for the rolling stock supply chain.
Once established, Great British Railways will take the strategy forward providing a long-term approach to future rolling stock needs and helping to secure better value from the private rolling stock market.
Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when she plans to convene the next meeting of the Department for Transport’s Freight Council.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Our ambition is for the Freight Council to bring leaders from the freight and logistics sector together with government to agree priorities and actions, so that freight plays its full part in growing our economy. We have been considering the best Council format to achieve this and will confirm this in due course.
Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what guidance her Department issues on the powers available to (a) local authorities and (b) the police to (i) remove and (ii) seize a vehicle parked on a public highway that does not have valid insurance.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government takes uninsured driving very seriously and is determined to see a reduction in this offence. Since 2005, the police have had the power to seize vehicles that are being driven without insurance and as of 2020, two million vehicles had been seized in Great Britain. We do not currently issue guidance on vehicle seizure for vehicles without insurance.
Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what guidance her Department issues on the powers available to (a) local authorities and (b) the police to (i) remove and (ii) seize a vehicle parked on a public highway that does not have a valid MOT.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department for Transport does not issue such guidance. The police can check if a vehicle has a valid MOT by using Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras and conducting random stops, and they are able to seize a vehicle without a valid MOT. Local authorities already have parking enforcement powers and can remove vehicles parked illegally, and many also enable the public to report vehicles without valid MOTs online.
Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress has been made on Network Rail's Traction Decarbonisation Network Strategy.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department for Transport took account of Network Rail’s Traction Decarbonisation Network Strategy which was previously used as guidance. However, with developments in the technology available, we are working with Network Rail, the Great British Railways Transition Team and rolling stock manufacturers and leasing companies to bring forward costed options for Government to carefully consider in terms of overall deliverability and affordability before any plan can be developed.
Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress has been made on the Government's Rail freight Growth Strategy.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Secretary of State has tasked Shadow Great British Railways leaders with producing a delivery plan for both passengers and freight users.
The Secretary of State for Transport will place a statutory duty on Great British Railways to promote the use of rail freight. There will also be targets set for growing rail freight.
Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress his Department has made on (a) the Folkestone to Wembley Rail Freight route and (b) adopting the gauge to W12 for cross-channel rail freight.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government fully supports the growth of international rail freight through the Channel Tunnel, recognising its economic and environmental potential.
Under our plans to deliver the biggest overhaul of the railways in a generation, Great British Railways will have a statutory duty to promote the use of rail freight, with an overall growth target set by the Transport Secretary.
Regarding gauge clearance, I am aware of industry proposals to enhance Kent routes to ‘W12’, in order to enable more containerised traffic from Europe. Alongside this, Network Rail has been considering more modest, incremental gauge clearance plans for it as a step towards W12. However, any investment decision will be subject to the usual business case process, working with industry, and will need to clearly demonstrate demand for enhanced infrastructure.
Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress has been made on Great British Railways Decarbonisation plan.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department for Transport is working with the rail industry, notably Network Rail, the Great British Railways Transition Team, and rolling stock manufacturers and leasing companies to develop credible long-term plans for decarbonisation; whilst Network Rail and Train Operators continue to deliver their existing commitments. This includes both reducing rail’s direct contribution to carbon emissions and the role rail should play in supporting wider decarbonisation of transport and industry. Once established, GBR will be accountable for delivery of these measures as part of the Secretary of State’s Long Term Rail Strategy.
Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of Network Rail’s targets to improve railway adhesion in Control Period 7 between 2024 and 2029.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Network Rail (NR) takes track adhesion extremely seriously. Its approach to managing adhesion risk across the system is focused on the tools, processes and skills required to run a safe service through autumn.
NR has implemented the GB Rail Industry Approach to Railhead Adhesion Management policy, which sets out all proven and practical control measures for adhesion risk. This includes infrastructure, train operations and trainborne risk controls. The Office of Rail and Road, as the safety and economic regulator for the railways, ensures that the work undertaken is fit for purpose.
Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of Network Rail’s management of railway adhesion in Control Period 6 between 2019 and 2024.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Network Rail (NR) takes track adhesion extremely seriously. Its approach to managing adhesion risk across the system is focused on the tools, processes and skills required to run a safe service through autumn.
NR has implemented the GB Rail Industry Approach to Railhead Adhesion Management policy, which sets out all proven and practical control measures for adhesion risk. This includes infrastructure, train operations and trainborne risk controls. The Office of Rail and Road, as the safety and economic regulator for the railways, ensures that the work undertaken is fit for purpose.