Asked by: Sarah Owen (Labour - Luton North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent progress she has made on improving rail accessibility in Luton North constituency.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
This Government is committed to improving the accessibility of the railway and recognises the significant social and economic benefits that enhanced accessibility brings to communities.
On 15 January, we confirmed that accessibility upgrades will not progress at Leagrave station in the Hon. Member’s constituency at this time. The absence of third-party funding contributions to the project was the crucial factor in this decision. In contrast, all 30 of the 50 shortlisted projects which included a third-party funding contribution will now be progressing.
Nearby Luton Airport Parkway station already has step-free access to all platforms. Delivery is beginning on step-free upgrades at Luton station.
In the meantime, where step-free access is not available, train operators are required to provide alternative accessible transport at no additional cost to the passenger.
In addition to the Access for All programme, whenever the rail industry installs, replaces or renews station infrastructure, this work must comply with current accessibility standards, with enforcement action taken by the Office of Rail and Road where those standards are not met.
Should sources of funding be identified locally, for example through section 106 contributions, this would provide an opportunity to bring forward accessibility improvements at Leagrave station.
The Rail Minister would be pleased to meet with the Hon. Member, at her earliest convenience, to discuss accessibility at Leagrave station further.
Asked by: Sarah Owen (Labour - Luton North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether stations with more than one million yearly journeys will be prioritised in future rounds of Access for All funding.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
This government is committed to improving the accessibility of the railway and recognises the social and economic benefits this brings to communities.
Funding for a future round of Access for All may be made available as part of the next Spending Review, which would present an opportunity to deliver full or partial accessibility upgrades at additional stations across Britain.
As part of the establishment of Great British Railways, we will further reform the programme, shaped through engagement with disabled people and local transport bodies, to ensure future investment is targeted where it delivers the greatest benefit.
Asked by: Sarah Owen (Labour - Luton North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 7 January to Question 100439, on Luton Airport: Railways, what discussions she has had with Network Rail on the provision of step free access for passengers at Leagrave station travelling to and from London Luton Airport.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
In May 2024, the previous government selected 50 stations for initial feasibility work for potential upgrades as part of the Access for All programme, before delivery funding was secured. We will make an announcement on which stations will progress in due course.
Asked by: Sarah Owen (Labour - Luton North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he plans to provide an update on whether Leagrave station will progress to the development phase under the Access for All programme.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
This government is committed to improving the accessibility of the railway and recognises the social and economic benefits this brings to communities.
In May 2024, the previous government selected 50 stations for initial feasibility work for potential upgrades as part of our Access for All programme, before delivery funding was secured. This included Leagrave railway station and an update on those projects progressing to the next stage will be provided shortly.
Given the acute funding pressures on capital investments, any sources of funding that can be identified locally, for example from s106 monies, would also be a way of bringing accessibility at this station further forward.
Asked by: Sarah Owen (Labour - Luton North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Planning Inspectorate's press release entitled London Luton Airport Expansion development consent decision announced, published on 3 April 2025, what discussions she has had with Network Rail on the provision of step free access for passengers from the north of Luton travelling to and from London Luton Airport.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Luton Airport Parkway already has step free access and lifts are already due to be installed at Luton station under the Access for All programme. The Department will also expect any new transport infrastructure to meet current accessibility standards.
Asked by: Sarah Owen (Labour - Luton North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 11 July 2025 to Question 65380 on Leagrave Station: Lifts, whether the completed 2023 Network Rail feasibility study for lifts at Leagrave station will expedite the progress of upgrades at the station.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
This government is committed to improving the accessibility of the railway and recognises the social and economic benefits this brings to communities.
In May 2024, the previous government selected 50 stations for initial feasibility work for potential upgrades as part of our Access for All programme. This included Leagrave railway station. We expect to provide an update to stakeholders during the summer.
Asked by: Sarah Owen (Labour - Luton North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent progress he has made with (a) Network Rail and (b) Govia Thameslink on the provision of lifts at Leagrave Station.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
This government is committed to improving the accessibility of the railway and recognises the social and economic benefits this brings to communities.
In May 2024, the previous government selected 50 stations for initial feasibility work for potential upgrades as part of our Access for All programme. This included Leagrave railway station. We expect to provide an update to stakeholders during the summer.
Asked by: Sarah Owen (Labour - Luton North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when her Department plans to provide guidance to Network Rail for the construction of lifts at Leagrave Station.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
I regret that Ministers are not yet able to comment on next steps regarding accessibility projects at specific stations including at Leagrave 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. Once we can confirm our approach to individual projects, DfT Ministers will of course ensure that MPs and other key stakeholders are updated.
Asked by: Sarah Owen (Labour - Luton North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Seafarers in the UK shipping industry: 2023 statistics, published on 22 February 2024, what (a) estimate he has made of the average pay for and (b) assessment he has made of the average roster pattern worked by non-EEA Ratings employed on ships owned by members of the UK Chamber of Shipping.
Answered by Guy Opperman
The Department does not have an estimate of the average pay for non-EEA Ratings employed on ships owned by members of the UK Chamber of Shipping.
Asked by: Sarah Owen (Labour - Luton North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of funding for local bus services across Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire.
Answered by Guy Opperman
In England, the majority of bus services outside London operate on a commercial basis. Where commercial service provision is insufficient to meet the needs of local communities, local authorities can subsidise bus services where this represents value for money. This ensures that service provision is aligned with local needs. In instances where bus services cross local authority boundaries, the Department for Transport expects the relevant local authorities to work closely with operators and passengers to ensure the delivery of bus services that reflect local need.
The Government recognises the importance of local bus services to ensuring communities can stay connected and has announced over £4.5 billion to support and improve bus services since 2020. This includes over £2 billion to help local authorities deliver their Bus Service Improvement Plans, of which Central Bedfordshire Council and Hertfordshire County Council have been allocated over £4.4 million and £32.7 million respectively between 2022/23 and 2024/25.
The Government also makes over £200 million available to bus operators every year through the Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG) to help them maintain their networks. A further £42 million in BSOG funding is provided directly to local authorities to help subsidise socially necessary bus services that might otherwise be commercially unviable. Central Bedfordshire Council receives £136,394 and Hertfordshire County Council receives over £1.2 million of this funding every year.