Asked by: Tom Tugendhat (Conservative - Tonbridge)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the reason was for the time taken between the submission of the Project Reach outline business case and final government approval.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The period between submission of the Outline Business Case and final Government approval reflected the need to complete the detailed commercial, legal, and financial arrangements for a complex long-term partnership. Additional time was also required following the withdrawal of the original private-sector connectivity partner and subsequent changes to the consortium's governance and management arrangements.
These matters needed to be resolved and assessed before final Government approval could be granted.
Asked by: Tom Tugendhat (Conservative - Tonbridge)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will publish a route-by-route timetable for eliminating mobile connectivity blackspots on the rail network.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government does not currently intend to publish a route-by-route timetable for eliminating mobile connectivity blackspots on the rail network.
Improvements to passenger connectivity are being delivered through a range of programmes across the rail network. These include Project Reach, which is improving mobile coverage in railway tunnels and stations, the deployment of Low Earth Orbit satellite technology to enhance onboard Wi‑Fi, and longer-term opportunities associated with the Future Railway Mobile Communication System infrastructure.
As coverage improvements will be delivered through a combination of initiatives and will depend on a range of operational and commercial factors, the Government is not producing a route-by-route timetable for eliminating connectivity blackspots.
Asked by: Tom Tugendhat (Conservative - Tonbridge)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the South Eastern Main Line through Tonbridge will be included in the next phase of Project Reach; and when that phase will begin.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The South Eastern Main Line through Tonbridge is not included in the current phase of Project Reach. No decision has yet been taken on its inclusion in any future phase and, consequently, no start date has been set.
The current phase of Project Reach will improve mobile connectivity in fifty-seven railway tunnels and provide upgraded 5G neutral host infrastructure at twelve Network Rail stations, with delivery scheduled through to March 2029.
Any future expansion of the programme will be considered in due course, subject to priorities, funding, and approvals.
Asked by: Tom Tugendhat (Conservative - Tonbridge)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress her Department is making on building missing slip roads at Junction 5 of the M25.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
There are currently no plans to build additional slip roads at Junction 5 of the M25. National Highways will soon be refreshing its Route Strategies, which are the key evidence base that informs the development of future investment plans for the Strategic Road Network. Development of these strategies will involve extensive stakeholder consultation, and there will be an opportunity for local groups to engage with National Highways as part of that process.
Asked by: Tom Tugendhat (Conservative - Tonbridge)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will provide an update on reintroducing a direct train service between Kent and Gatwick Airport.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Train operators and Network Rail are required to work together to plan services that meet current and future demand while delivering value for money. While we recognise the benefits of a direct service, there are significant financial and operational challenges, particularly on the busy Brighton Main Line. A feasibility study is underway, and I understand that Network Rail has committed to meeting with you ahead of publication of the findings, which will help clarify the options and inform any next steps.
Asked by: Tom Tugendhat (Conservative - Tonbridge)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what investment her Department has planned to enable 12 carriage trains on the Maidstone East line.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Southeastern (SET) have plans to improve services, increase capacity and reduce crowding to/from Maidstone East from May 2026. These include the reintroduction of Mainline services to London Blackfriars at peak times from Maidstone East; additional services between Charing Cross and Maidstone East on weekdays; and more off-peak services between London Victoria and Ashford International via Maidstone East.
SET are also exploring further options for the December 2026 timetable.
SET are always exploring the possibility of providing extra capacity where needed. This is not always feasible due to a variety of reasons, including platform lengths, rolling stock availability and funding considerations.
Asked by: Tom Tugendhat (Conservative - Tonbridge)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans she has to help reduce overcrowding on peak time services on the Maidstone East line.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Southeastern (SET) have plans to improve services, increase capacity and reduce crowding to/from Maidstone East from May 2026. These include the reintroduction of Mainline services to London Blackfriars at peak times from Maidstone East; additional services between Charing Cross and Maidstone East on weekdays; and more off-peak services between London Victoria and Ashford International via Maidstone East.
SET are also exploring further options for the December 2026 timetable.
SET are always exploring the possibility of providing extra capacity where needed. This is not always feasible due to a variety of reasons, including platform lengths, rolling stock availability and funding considerations.
Asked by: Tom Tugendhat (Conservative - Tonbridge)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans she has to increase capacity on the Maidstone East line.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Southeastern (SET) have plans to improve services, increase capacity and reduce crowding to/from Maidstone East from May 2026. These include the reintroduction of Mainline services to London Blackfriars at peak times from Maidstone East; additional services between Charing Cross and Maidstone East on weekdays; and more off-peak services between London Victoria and Ashford International via Maidstone East.
SET are also exploring further options for the December 2026 timetable.
SET are always exploring the possibility of providing extra capacity where needed. This is not always feasible due to a variety of reasons, including platform lengths, rolling stock availability and funding considerations.
Asked by: Tom Tugendhat (Conservative - Tonbridge)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether electrification of the Uckfield Line will form part of projects to be implemented, as part of the Williams-Shapps plan for rail.
Answered by Wendy Morton - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Department for Transport is in the process of considering how the recently concluded Spending Review 2021 will impact on a range of rail projects, including the proposed electrification of the line between Hurst Green and Uckfield. A decision as to whether the scheme will progress further will be made in due course.
Asked by: Tom Tugendhat (Conservative - Tonbridge)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether learner drivers who had a driving test booked before 22 April 2021 will be given priority access following the delay in the return of car driving tests from 12 April 2020.
Answered by Baroness Maclean of Redditch
In line with the Prime Minister’s road map announcement, car driving lessons will resume on 12 April providing data shows it is safe to move to step 2 of the road map. In response to a request by the Approved Driving Instructor National Associations Strategic Partnership, car driving tests have been scheduled to restart 10 days later on 22 April. This will give candidates the chance to access tuition to ensure they are properly prepared before they take their test.
There are currently over 400,000 people with a driving test booked. This includes some candidates who have had their tests cancelled and rescheduled on more than one occasion because of the pandemic. It would be unfair, and impractical, to move every one of those back to accommodate those with tests booked to take place before 22 April.