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Written Question
East Coast Railway Line
Monday 24th June 2019

Asked by: John Grogan (Labour - Keighley)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the timeframe is for the commencement of the additional rail services between London and Bradford detailed in the east coast franchise.

Answered by Andrew Jones

LNER is working to introduce direct services between London and Bradford by the end of 2020.


Written Question
Skipton-Colne Railway Line
Thursday 9th May 2019

Asked by: John Grogan (Labour - Keighley)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will publish the initial feasibility study into the reopening the Skipton to Colne rail link.

Answered by Andrew Jones

Feasibility work is still in progress. We are now pressing on with further work to make sure that the proposed scheme can be made affordable, will attract sufficient traffic, and is part of the right long-term solution for all Trans-Pennine rail traffic. We will publish when these important issues have been explored and we understand the full picture.


Written Question
Skipton-Colne Railway Line
Tuesday 26th March 2019

Asked by: John Grogan (Labour - Keighley)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress has been made on (a) scoping and (b) commissioning further feasibility work on whether the restoration of the Skipton to Colne link would generate enough freight and passenger traffic to be affordable.

Answered by Andrew Jones

Work is currently progressing and we expect to receive the results later this year to inform a decision as to whether the scheme should go to the next stage ‘develop’ of the Government’s Rail Network Enhancements Pipeline.

We are working closely with Transport for the North to assess the proposed scheme and to ensure that it can be affordable, will attract sufficient traffic, and is part of the right long-term solution for the cross Transpennine rail traffic.

This is part of our new approach to rail enhancements to ensure we address the needs of passengers and freight, and that funding commitments appropriately reflect the stage of development of schemes.


Written Question
Railways: Franchises
Monday 10th December 2018

Asked by: John Grogan (Labour - Keighley)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, which rail franchises are required to provide train services on Boxing Day, and what those requirements are for each franchise.

Answered by Andrew Jones

Franchise Agreement train service specification (typically Train Service Requirements) are published on the .GOV website and the General Provisions include the specified service requirements for Bank Holidays and Boxing Day, the table below lists the requirements per franchised operator.

The Christmas and New Year period is historically a time for major engineering works around the rail network as fewer people are travelling, therefore the ability to schedule the specified Boxing Day train services may be adversely affected.

All operators publish changes to their train services for Christmas and New Year, such advice is available through the National Rail website under “Holidays and events.”

Boxing Day (26 December 2018) service requirements:

Franchise (TOC)

Franchise Agreement requirement and Boxing Day services

Chiltern (Chiltern Railways)

No services are required

Cross-Country (ArrivaXC)

No services are required

East Anglia (GreaterAnglia)

On Boxing Day, train services shall be provided between London Liverpool Street and Stansted Airport, calling at Tottenham Hale (or Seven Sisters), Harlow Town and Bishop’s Stortford. The First Service shall arrive at Stansted Airport no later than 0715 and the Last Service shall depart London no earlier than 2315 such that a minimum of 35 services are provided between London Liverpool Street and Stansted Airport. The First Service from Stansted Airport shall arrive at London no later than 0720 and the Last Service shall depart Stansted Airport no earlier than 0030 such that a minimum of 37 services are provided between Stansted Airport and London Liverpool Street. [This year a half-hourly Stansted Express train service to/from Tottenham Hale].

East Midlands (EMTrains)

No services are required

Essex Thameside (c2c)

No services are required

Great Western (GWR)

No services are required

Integrated Kent Franchise (Southeastern Railway)

No services are required. [This year a High Speed (HS1) service will run between London St Pancras International and Ashford International].

LNER

No services are required

Inter-City West Coast (Virgin Trains)

No services are required

Northern (Arriva Rail North)

For the duration of Train Service Requirement(s) 2 and 3, on Boxing Day the Franchisee shall operate a minimum of sixty (60) Passenger Services, on such Routes as the Franchisee may determine. [Northern have requested that this not be delivered for this coming Boxing Day, this is a matter for Rail North who is currently considering this request].

South Western (SWR)

No services are required

Thameslink Southern & Great Northern (GTR)

Train services between London Victoria and Gatwick Airport at half-hourly intervals, to operate from approximately 0500 until approximately 2300; From approximately 0830 until approximately 2100; (i) train services between London Victoria and Three Bridges at half-hourly intervals, calling intermediately at Clapham Junction, East Croydon and Gatwick Airport. Alternate services shall be extended to call at Haywards Heath and Brighton to provide an hourly service between those stations and London Victoria. The requirements for these services may be combined with those between London Victoria and Gatwick Airport; and (ii) stopping train services at half-hourly intervals between: (A) London Victoria and Sutton via Selhurst; and (B) London Victoria and East Croydon via Crystal Palace. [These services will run from London Bridge this year due to infrastructure works preventing services from serving London Victoria. Ticket acceptance is in place and passengers are able to use their ticket on London Underground services between London Victoria and London Bridge].

Trans-Pennine Express (First TPE)

No services are required

West Midlands (West Midland Trains)

No services are required


Written Question
Railways: North of England
Monday 10th December 2018

Asked by: John Grogan (Labour - Keighley)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the outcome is of his discussions with Northern and Transpennine on their franchise commitments to provide train services on Boxing Day 2018.

Answered by Andrew Jones

Under the terms of their Franchise Agreement Arriva Rail North (ARN) were required within 12 months of the start date of the franchise to consult with passengers, user groups, Network Rail, other train operators who operate along the affected routes and other relevant Stakeholders on the potential demand for passenger services on Boxing Day and produce a report. This was submitted to the Rail North Partnership team and highlighted that the direct cost of operation would exceed the estimated revenue, and raised concerns regarding access due to significant engineering activity traditionally carried out at this time of year.

Separately ARN’s Franchise Agreement requires the operation of a minimum of 60 services on Boxing Day from 2018. However, Northern raised concerns about their ability to operate a service on Boxing Day 2018, mainly due to engineering possessions along the routes they wish to operate, and have asked for a derogation until the following year to the current Franchise Agreement which is currently being considered.

Under the terms of their Franchise Agreement TransPennine Express (TPE) were required within 12 months of the start date of the franchise to consult with passengers, user groups, Network Rail, other train operators who operate along the affected routes and other relevant Stakeholders on the potential demand for passenger services on Boxing Day and produce a report. This was submitted to the Rail North Partnership team and recommended that there may be an opportunity to work jointly with ARN and RNP to agree to use funds allocated in the Franchise for future service initiatives (the Service Options Fund) to provide a trial service for a future Boxing day, with terms of such a trial being pre-agreed between the parties.

Unlike ARN, TPE has no obligation under its Franchise Agreement to provide Boxing Day services. Opportunities for funding and delivering such services in the future will be considered alongside other franchise enhancement opportunities.


Written Question
Skipton-Colne Railway Line
Monday 10th December 2018

Asked by: John Grogan (Labour - Keighley)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he plans to publish the feasibility study into the restoration of the Skipton to Colne railway link.

Answered by Andrew Jones

The feasibility study into the reinstatement of the Skipton-Colne rail link as part of a route for passengers and freight has only very recently been completed. The Government is considering next steps and expects to make an announcement shortly.


Written Question
London North Eastern Railway
Tuesday 23rd October 2018

Asked by: John Grogan (Labour - Keighley)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the timetable for LNER will include seven direct trains per day between Bradford and London on the east coast line from May 2019.

Answered by Lord Johnson of Marylebone

LNER is currently working with its industry partners to introduce extra services as soon as possible, including the Bradford services, and the industry is reviewing proposed changes for the May 2019 timetable.


Written Question
Skipton-Colne Railway Line
Monday 10th September 2018

Asked by: John Grogan (Labour - Keighley)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent progress has been made on the feasibility study for the restorations of the Skipton-Colne Railway; and what the timetable is for his receiving the final report from that study.

Answered by Lord Johnson of Marylebone

We are working closely with Transport for the North and relevant local transport authorities to evaluate the costs, benefits and funding options for reopening the line for passengers and freight, as part of a freight route across the Pennines. It builds on previous work commissioned by the local authorities and local campaign group. Work is in progress and we expect to receive the results later this year in the form of a Strategic Outline Business Case prepared in line with the Government’s new pipeline approach to rail enhancements.


Written Question
Railways: Public Holidays
Monday 16th July 2018

Asked by: John Grogan (Labour - Keighley)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with Northern Rail and Transpennine on the provision of services on Boxing Day 2018; and what the outcome of those discussions was.

Answered by Lord Johnson of Marylebone

The Rail North Partnership has had discussions with the operators regarding the provision of Boxing Day services for 2018. At this time, following the announcement yesterday regarding the timetable for the December change date, we are unable to confirm the plans for Boxing Day in 2018.


Written Question
Aviation
Tuesday 12th June 2018

Asked by: John Grogan (Labour - Keighley)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the number of international flights (a) to and (b) from each UK airport in the event that (i) the north-west runway at Heathrow is built and (ii) if no additional airport capacity is built in the South East of England.

Answered by Jesse Norman

The Government has fully assessed the impact of expansion in the South East on the UK’s connectivity, as set out in Chapter 3 of the Updated Appraisal Report. The Government is clear that a Northwest Runway at Heathrow will help to secure the UK’s status as a global aviation hub, while regional airports will continue to develop their point-to-point networks.

This conclusion is supported by the analysis which shows that passenger numbers and international flights at airports outside of London are expected to increase by 80% and 71% respectively between 2016 and 2050 with a third runway at Heathrow. In addition, passengers from all across the UK are expected to use the connections made available at an expanded Heathrow, with nearly 6 million additional trips from passengers outside of London and the South East being made via the airport in 2040.

Table 1 below shows the forecast number of international passenger Air Transport Movements (ATM) from the Department’s 2017 UK aviation forecasts.[1] The Government recognises that all three schemes for expansion in the South East are projected to result in regional airports experiencing somewhat slower growth in international flights than they might otherwise have seen. However, there is still expected to be strong growth at non-London airports relative to today. Expansion will also improve the UK’s connectivity as a whole with more frequent services to important destinations around the world, providing benefits for passengers and freight-operators across the UK, supporting economic growth.

It is recognised that Table 1 does not reflect this hub benefit nor the considerably greater scope that expansion brings for more domestic flights from regional airports to Heathrow, which would provide passengers from across the country access to a vast network of international destinations. In addition, the modelling does not take account of the future commercial strategies which individual airports could employ to take advantage of the opportunities from both greater connections and growing demand outside London.

Heathrow expansion has been supported by a range of UK airports, including Liverpool John Lennon, Glasgow and Newquay.

Table 1: International passenger Air Transport Movements at modelled UK airports, thousands

International passenger ATMs (000s)

No expansion

LHR NWR

2030

2040

2050

2030

2040

2050

Gatwick

266

277

280

255

273

279

Heathrow

467

473

474

698

719

730

London City

69

65

66

39

55

52

Luton

100

95

88

99

97

89

Stansted

166

182

183

121

163

182

Birmingham

115

173

185

97

130

183

Bristol

56

59

66

49

58

59

East Midlands

52

71

90

53

67

84

Edinburgh

52

63

71

51

63

72

Glasgow

44

47

55

43

46

53

Liverpool

23

25

43

25

27

42

Manchester

179

214

272

159

207

245

Newcastle

26

29

35

22

28

34

Other small UK airports

140

217

351

113

137

232

Total

1755

1990

2258

1825

2069

2338

[1] An ATM represents a single use of a runway – either a landing or a take-off – so the numbers of take-offs and landings are each half of the total displayed.