Asked by: John Howell (Conservative - Henley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the timeframe is for the review of the Oxford-Cambridge Expressway.
Answered by George Freeman
We will provide an update on whether the project should continue in due course.
Asked by: John Howell (Conservative - Henley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the status is of the application made under the Access for All programme in relation to Goring and Streatley station.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani
Goring and Streatley station has not been nominated for the current round of Access for All funding as it already has step free access to and between all platforms.
Asked by: John Howell (Conservative - Henley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department plans to take to improve the approach to Goring station in Oxfordshire.
Answered by Andrew Jones
Goring & Streatley station was improved in September 2016 when a new footbridge and lifts opened, allowing step-free access to both platforms. DfT Minor Works funding has been used to make further accessibility improvements at the station. There are currently no plans to undertake further work.
The road network around the station is the responsibility of Oxfordshire Country Council, who have a statutory duty to maintain the highways network in their area.
Asked by: John Howell (Conservative - Henley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether a train operator has an obligation under its Disabled People’s Protection Policy to ensure that ramps which are fit for purpose are made available to facilitate the boarding or leaving of a train by wheelchair users whether assistance has been booked in advance or not.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani
The provision of manual boarding ramps for access and egress to a passenger train is mandatory for regulated rail vehicles where the step/gap between the train and the platform is greater than the permitted maximums. As a condition of an operator’s licence, a train company must publish a Disabled People’s Protection Policy (DPPP), which is approved by the Office of Rail and Roads.
The DPPP must demonstrate commitments to provide assistance to disabled passengers who need a ramp, booked in advance and not.
Asked by: John Howell (Conservative - Henley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the effect on the travel industry of continuing threat-level warnings in relation to travel to Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt.
Answered by John Hayes
The Government’s first priority is the safety and security of British citizens. The UK Government is fully focussed on enabling a return of flights Sharm el-Sheikh as soon as possible and appreciates the co-operation of the travel industry.
Asked by: John Howell (Conservative - Henley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much funding will be made available to the Access for All scheme in Control Period 5; and what terms and conditions will apply to such funding.
Answered by Stephen Hammond
£100m has been allocated to extend the Access for All programme for Control Period 5. Stations will be selected based on their annual footfall, weighted by the incidence of disability in the area. The preferences of the train operators and the availability of third party funding or other capital contributions will also be considered.
Asked by: John Howell (Conservative - Henley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when lifts will be installed at Goring and Streatley station; and whether this will coincide with the replacement of the footbridge.
Answered by Stephen Hammond
Network Rail has submitted Goring and Streatley as a candidate station for Access for All Funding. The Government plans to make an announcement on funding in April. In the meantime, Network Rail has advised me that the new footbridge which will be installed in the summer will be suitable for the installation of lifts.