Asked by: Oliver Dowden (Conservative - Hertsmere)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 3 September 2024 to Question 2362 on Railway Stations: Access, what progress she has made on considering the best approach to the Access for All programme.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Further to my answer of 3 September 2024, we are not yet able to comment on next steps regarding Access for All. This Government is committed to improving the accessibility of the railway and recognises the social and economic benefits this brings to communities.
Asked by: Oliver Dowden (Conservative - Hertsmere)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans her Department has to improve accessibility at Radlett Station.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
We are not yet able to comment on next steps regarding Access for All projects at specific stations including at Radlett station. However, please be assured that we are committed to improving the accessibility of the railway and recognise the social and economic benefits this brings to communities.
Asked by: Oliver Dowden (Conservative - Hertsmere)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to allocate further funding through the Access for All programme.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
We are carefully considering the best approach to the Access for All programme. This Government is committed to improving the accessibility of the railway and recognise the social and economic benefits this brings to communities.
Asked by: Oliver Dowden (Conservative - Hertsmere)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking on ensuring the extension of the Oyster card pay as you go system to Radlett.
Answered by Claire Perry
Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) has a Committed Obligation to deliver proposals with an acceptable business case for Oyster Pay As You Go (PAYG) and contactless payment (CPAY) to five stations and their respective Lines of Route; this obligation includes Radlett.
The works needed to complete this obligation are technically complex and require a substantial amount of work by Transport for London (TfL) - including a significant upgrade to the Oyster back office which will not be complete before 2017 - before they can be introduced.
GTR, TfL and DfT officials meet at a Project Board every month to review progress.
Asked by: Oliver Dowden (Conservative - Hertsmere)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the likely effect of the proposed works to the Elstree Tunnels on commuter rail services.
Answered by Claire Perry
This work is part of Network Rail’s renewals programme. Renewals works are an operational matter for Network Rail and my Department does not make any assessment of their local impacts.
Asked by: Oliver Dowden (Conservative - Hertsmere)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has made an assessment of the capacity of the Elstree rail tunnels to accommodate rail freight trains for the proposed Radlett rail freight terminal.
Answered by Claire Perry
It is the responsibility of the developers, working with Network Rail, to undertake any feasibility study, cost analysis or modifications necessary to the Elstree rail tunnels to achieve W10 gauge clearance. This forms part of the required Rail Related Works set out in the Conditions attached to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government’s approval of the planning application for the Radlett Strategic Rail Freight Terminal.
Asked by: Oliver Dowden (Conservative - Hertsmere)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether a feasibility study has been undertaken on modifications to the Elstree rail tunnels; and whether his Department has undertaken a cost analysis on those modifications.
Answered by Claire Perry
It is the responsibility of the developers, working with Network Rail, to undertake any feasibility study, cost analysis or modifications necessary to the Elstree rail tunnels to achieve W10 gauge clearance. This forms part of the required Rail Related Works set out in the Conditions attached to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government’s approval of the planning application for the Radlett Strategic Rail Freight Terminal.
Asked by: Oliver Dowden (Conservative - Hertsmere)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what information his Department holds on whether either of the Elstree tunnels will need to be closed during the development of the proposed Radlett rail freight terminal.
Answered by Claire Perry
The Department does not hold information on this. It will be for the developers, working with Network Rail, to undertake any modifications necessary to the Elstree rail tunnels to achieve W10 gauge clearance; and it will be for Network Rail to assess and to schedule the necessary works.
Asked by: Oliver Dowden (Conservative - Hertsmere)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to help alleviate road congestion approaching the Stirling Corner roundabout; what discussions he has had with Transport for London on that congestion; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Robert Goodwill
Transport for London (TfL) is responsible for this section of main road. TfL has informed the Department that it has been investigating a recent problem relating to faulty traffic signal equipment on the approach to Stirling Corner which has led to increased congestion in the area, and that it is making every effort to repair the fault as soon as possible.