Asked by: Lord Rosser (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to work with the EU to maintain common standards in transport following the UK's exit from the EU.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
The Prime Minister has set out her intention to seek a unique and ambitious economic partnership based on our rules and regulation being the same at the start, and on maintaining our commitment to free trade and high standards – while allowing for us both to make changes where we want to, in a stable and orderly way. This will be the approach for transport, as for other parts of the economic partnership.
Asked by: Lord Rosser (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether their recent response to the consultation on vehicle clocking means that no further action will be taken, or whether it means that consideration is being given to further action in the light of the responses to the consultation; and if it is the latter, whether the outcome of that consideration wil be announced before the end of 2017.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
The Government’s published response to this consultation indicates that the Government will consider further what measures, if any, are needed. The outcome of that decision will be announced in due course.
Asked by: Lord Rosser (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, following the publication of their report introducing roadworthiness testing for fast tractors used for haulage, and other technical changes to vehicle testing legislation, they are planning further action; if so, what; and in particular, whether a further consultation response is planned for later this year.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The report sets out Government decisions on several issues. It announced the introduction of roadworthiness testing for fast tractors used for non-agricultural commercial haulage. It also announced a number of technical changes to the MOT test. Legislation has been made to give effect to these changes, which will take effect from 20 May 2018. In advance of that date, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency will make the necessary operational changes, including updates to the relevant testing manuals.
Several other potentially longer term pieces of work are referred to in the publication, on car ‘clocking’ and on prohibition clearance charging. The Government is considering carefully what action may be needed in these areas, although there are no current plans for a further public consultation this year.
Asked by: Lord Rosser (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what effect recent decisions to reduce the previously announced intended extent of route electrification of the Great Western franchise will have on journey times of bi-modal trains.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Intercity Express bi-mode trains being introduced from this autumn will deliver the existing Great Western Main Line timetable.
The Department for Transport is working with Network Rail and Hitachi to ensure delivery of journey times reduced by around 15minutes once electrification between London, Bristol and South Wales is complete. These new bi-mode trains, capable of operating in electric and diesel mode, mean that we can improve journeys for passengers without disruptive work to put up wires and masts along routes where they are no longer required.
Asked by: Lord Rosser (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, for the bi-modal trains running under the Great Western franchise, the switch from diesel to electric and vice versa will occur whilst the train is on the move, and if so, whether at full speed, or slow speed, or whether the switch will be made whilst the train is in a station or otherwise not moving.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Intercity Express Trains running on the Great Western Main Line will be able to switch seamlessly between electric and diesel mode whilst on the move and whilst stationary. The speed of train during that power change will depend on the line speed at that location.
Asked by: Lord Rosser (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, in light of recent decisions to reduce the previously announced intended extent of route electrification of the Great Western franchise, what additional payment will have to be made to Hitachi to reflect the consequential increase in the use of the diesel engine in the bi-modal train.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Department for Transport is currently in discussions to amend the Great Western Main Line Intercity Express contract. The specific detail of these discussions remains commercially confidential.
Asked by: Lord Rosser (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, apart from the new bi-modal trains, there is any passenger rolling stock on order for Great Western franchise which is not yet in service or fully in service.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
A separate order for the AT300 version of the Hitachi Intercity Express Train has been made by Great Western Railway (GWR) to replace HST trains on long-distance services between London and the South West of England. A further order of these trains has been made to cover fast services from London to Oxford and Newbury/Bedwyn. GWR has also ordered Bombardier Class 387 electric trains for electric services in the Thames Valley, the first of which are already in service between Maidenhead and Paddington, with the final ones planned to enter service when the route between London and Didcot Parkway is available for use by electric trains. Some of these trains will also operate local services between Reading and Newbury.
Asked by: Lord Rosser (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government when they intend to publish their response to the consultation held from 22 September 2016 to 2 November 2016 on roadworthiness testing for fast tractors and other technical changes to vehicle testing; and what are the reasons for the delay in publishing their response.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government has analysed the responses to this consultation and is preparing a response. The proposals in this consultation are being considered alongside other related proposals in respect of changes to roadworthiness testing. The Government intends to publish a response to the consultation as soon as possible, and within this calendar year.
Asked by: Lord Rosser (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
Her Majesty's Government whether they have had any approaches, either formal or informal, from the operator of the East Coast Mainline franchise about possible revision or renegotiation of the terms of the franchise; and, if so, (1) what has been the basis put forward by the operator for raising the issue of revision or renegotiation and, (2) what was their response.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
We monitor all franchises and are in regular discussions with franchise operators over performance of their contractual obligations. This includes discussions with Virgin Trains East Coast about the performance of the East Coast franchise. We are unable to comment on the details of any such discussions due to their commercial nature.
Asked by: Lord Rosser (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the answer by Viscount Younger of Leckie on 7 February (HL Deb, col 1592), when Highways England will update their website, confirming that the programme to dual the A1 between the north-east and the Scottish border will commence in 2020.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Highways England is currently developing proposals to deliver the A1 Morpeth to Ellingham dualling schemes and A1 North of Ellingham enhancements announced in accordance with the first Road Investment Strategy (RIS).
I can confirm that these dualling schemes are expected to commence in 2020, subject to completing the necessary statutory planning processes. Works on the enhancements north of Ellingham are expected to commence in 2018.
Updates to the website to reflect this are being planned and will be implemented in due course. The proposed start of works dates for these schemes are currently shown in the summary section of the scheme web page. The header box will be reformatted to show the proposed start dates for the two schemes more clearly.
Full dualling of the A1 from Ellingham in the north-east to Berwick at the Scottish border is not within the scope of the A1 in Northumberland project being delivered by Highways England as part of the first RIS. The Government is looking ahead to develop RIS 2 which will cover investments beyond 2020. Any further proposals for the A1 would be considered as part of this work.