Asked by: Jerome Mayhew (Conservative - Broadland and Fakenham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of pausing the Midland Mainline upgrade on (a) future East Midlands Railway regional fleet requirements and (b) planned Control Period 7 work.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
I recognise the importance to the UK’s rolling stock manufacturing sector, and its supply chains, of having a strategy for rolling stock and supporting infrastructure. The Government is committed to developing this strategy in advance of Great British Railways. It will include consideration of the likely long-term future rolling stock needs across the network, including East Midlands Railway’s regional fleet requirements.
Since the decision to pause further electrification of the Midland Main Line was confirmed, Network Rail have been making plans for their current activities in a way that enables work to be subsequently utilised, as and when electrification on the route is re-started. As part of this they are also establishing the potential impact of the pause on other planned works.
Asked by: Jerome Mayhew (Conservative - Broadland and Fakenham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the cost to the public purse was for the development of the planning application by Network Rail for the redevelopment of London Liverpool Street station; and what estimate she has made of the potential cost of the (a) planning and (b) redevelopment of London Liverpool Streest station in each of the next five financial years.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The planning application, for a fully intermodal transport solution for Liverpool Street Station, was prepared through a Network Rail and Transport for London partnership at a cost of £8.7m. These costs will be re-imbursed as part of securing a development and investment partner, which will also provide private investment in the order of hundreds of millions of pounds. This is a detailed application and subject to timely consents, the planning process will incur no further costs.
Asked by: Jerome Mayhew (Conservative - Broadland and Fakenham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions her Department has had with Network Rail on the proposed redevelopment of (a) London Euston and (b) London Liverpool Street stations.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
The Department has regular discussions with Network Rail, as part of our engagement with key partners to develop affordable, integrated plans for the Euston Station campus. This will comprise the new HS2 station, an upgraded Network Rail station and enhancements to the London Underground station and local transport facilities, along with a significant level of development. As part of this process, Network Rail is developing a scheme for the redevelopment of the existing Euston Station that will accommodate current and future passenger demand on the West Coast Main Line, while replacing life expired station assets in a cost-effective manner.
Officials in my Department are engaged with Network Rail Property and Planning teams around the redevelopment proposals for Liverpool Street station. These plans are at an early stage and will be subject to planning consents. Both my Department and Network Rail will continue to review these plans as they develop.
Asked by: Jerome Mayhew (Conservative - Broadland and Fakenham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what representations she has received from Historic England on Network Rail’s redevelopment of London Liverpool Street.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department for Transport has not received any representations from Historic England around the redevelopment proposals for Liverpool Street station. However, I understand that Network Rail have closely consulted with Historic England in the development of their updated proposals. Whilst Historic England had significant concerns about the original plans, I am now reassured that the revised proposals have substantially addressed those concerns. Plans are at an early stage and will continue to liaise with relevant stakeholders as the project develops.
Asked by: Jerome Mayhew (Conservative - Broadland and Fakenham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions his Department has had with Network Rail on plans for the redevelopment of London Liverpool Street station.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Officials in my Department are engaged with Network Rail Property and Planning teams around the redevelopment proposals for Liverpool Street station. These plans are at an early stage and will be subject to planning consents. Both my Department and Network Rail will continue to review these plans as they develop.
Asked by: Jerome Mayhew (Conservative - Broadland and Fakenham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many FTE staff work for Great British Rail transition team.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Great British Railways Transition Team (GBRTT) was set up as a temporary organisation under the previous government to design and transition towards Great British Railways, including building cross-industry capability. GBRTT no longer directly employs any staff. The Department working in close collaboration with Network Rail, DfTO and wider industry partners is taking forward work on the design and transition to GBR.
Asked by: Jerome Mayhew (Conservative - Broadland and Fakenham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much money has been spent on the Great British Rail Transition Team.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Great British Railways Transition Team (GBRTT) was set up as a temporary organisation under the previous government to design and transition towards Great British Railways, including building cross-industry capability. Total funding provided to GBRTT was: £12.9m in the financial year 2021-22; £52.7m in the financial year 2022-23, £41.3m in the financial year 2023-24; and £27.6m in the financial year 2024-25.
Asked by: Jerome Mayhew (Conservative - Broadland and Fakenham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of conclusion one of the Public Account Committee's report entitled HS2: Update following the Northern leg cancellation, HC 357, published 28 February 2025, on the governance of Great British Railways.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Work is underway on the design of Great British Railways, including its governance. We will take learnings from elsewhere, including the Public Account Committee’s recent report on High Speed Two (HS2), to ensure GBR is set up to deliver better services for passengers and freight customers, and better value for money for taxpayers.
Asked by: Jerome Mayhew (Conservative - Broadland and Fakenham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an estimate of the amount of funding spent on reforming the train ticketing system in the (a) 2021-22, (b) 2022-23 and (c) 2023-24 financial years.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Fares Ticketing and Retail (FTR) Programme to modernise ticketing and retail systems started at Spending Review 2021. The first year of the programme was 22/23. The Department spend £55.7 million in 22/23 and £66 million in 23/24 on the FTR programme.
Asked by: Jerome Mayhew (Conservative - Broadland and Fakenham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much of the funding allocated to reform the train ticketing system has been spent.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The department is committed to reforming the train ticketing system and improving passenger experience. There has been substantial progress in extending Pay As You Go (PAYG) ticketing in the South East and progressing PAYG trials in Greater Manchester and the West Midlands. We will establish Great British Railways, ensuring fares and ticketing are managed in the interests of passengers and taxpayers.