Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, which rail lines are only operated for freight purposes; and what the length in miles of each such line is.
Answered by Huw Merriman
As of 31 March 2022, according to ORR, 777 miles of mainline network in Great Britain are for freight only, with 9,129 miles for passenger and freight traffic. This refers to the mainline railway and does not include privately operated lines, such as terminals, for which we do not hold information.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what percentage of the movement of freight within the United Kingdom was by (a) road, (b) rail and (c) water in each year since 2016.
Answered by Huw Merriman
From 2016 to 2020 (latest available statistics), the average annual percentage of domestic freight moved, measured by goods moved, is a) 78%, b) 9% and c) 14%.
The table below summarises the percentage of domestic freight moved by mode annually since 2016, measured by goods moved.
| Road | Rail | Water |
2016 | 76% | 9% | 15% |
2017 | 78% | 9% | 13% |
2018 | 78% | 9% | 13% |
2019 | 79% | 8% | 13% |
2020 | 77% | 9% | 14% |
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, which railway stations have been (a) built and (b) reopened in the last 20 years; whether his Department has made an estimate of the number of jobs created (i) directly during the first two years of constructions, (ii) indirectly during the first two years of each constructions and (iii) overall in each project; and what data his Department holds on the cost of each project.
Answered by Huw Merriman
The Office of Rail and Road publishes data on the authorisation into use of new railway infrastructure (including new stations and lines) since 2019 at: https://www.orr.gov.uk/guidance-compliance/rail/health-safety/laws/interoperability/authorisations
The Department does not routinely hold information on levels of job creation across all station and line projects and is unable to answer the timeframe requested as this would incur disproportionate cost.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, which railway lines have been (a) built and (b) reopened in the last 20 years; how many jobs were created (i) directly during the first two years of each construction, (ii) indirectly during the first two years of each construction and (iii) overall in each project; and how much each project cost.
Answered by Huw Merriman
The Office of Rail and Road publishes data on the authorisation into use of new railway infrastructure (including new stations and lines) since 2019 at: https://www.orr.gov.uk/guidance-compliance/rail/health-safety/laws/interoperability/authorisations
The Department does not routinely hold information on levels of job creation across all station and line projects and is unable to answer the timeframe requested as this would incur disproportionate cost.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has made an assessment of the implications for his policies on improving public transport of the impact of local transport (a) levies in France and (b) funding instruments in other countries.
Answered by Richard Holden - Shadow Secretary of State for Transport
The Government keeps its funding model for local transport services under review, and takes account of a wide range of factors, including evidence from overseas, in determining the appropriate level and means of support for local transport authorities.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has made an estimate of the average carbon dioxide emissions per person per journey from London to Newcastle by (a) air, (b) rail, (c) lorry and (d) car.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
The Department has not estimated the emissions associated with this specific journey.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has had discussions with the Rail Delivery Group on the expected timescale to upgrade ticket vending machines.
Answered by Huw Merriman
We recognise there are a wide range of fares and tickets offered to passengers, and that not all products are offered consistently online or at ticket vending machines. Industry is looking to expand digital ticketing options and make them even easier for passengers to use through upgrades to ticket vending machines and digitisation of more tickets and processes.
When proposing major changes to ticket office opening hours, including closures, operators are required to take into account the adequacy of the proposed alternatives in relation to the needs of all passengers. This includes ensuring that passengers can easily buy the right ticket for the journey they want to make, with consideration of the product range available at the station and what support is available to help with purchase.
Passengers will not be expected to travel out of their way to buy a ticket and will be able to buy en-route or at their destination.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many and what proportion of railway ticketing options are available at ticket vending machines.
Answered by Huw Merriman
We recognise there are a wide range of fares and tickets offered to passengers, and that not all products are offered consistently online or at ticket vending machines. Industry is looking to expand digital ticketing options and make them even easier for passengers to use through upgrades to ticket vending machines and digitisation of more tickets and processes.
When proposing major changes to ticket office opening hours, including closures, operators are required to take into account the adequacy of the proposed alternatives in relation to the needs of all passengers. This includes ensuring that passengers can easily buy the right ticket for the journey they want to make, with consideration of the product range available at the station and what support is available to help with purchase.
Passengers will not be expected to travel out of their way to buy a ticket and will be able to buy en-route or at their destination.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has made of the potential impact of relocating ticketing office staff on (a) income from ticket sales and (b) levels of fare evasion. .
Answered by Huw Merriman
Passengers have a number of alternative ways to purchase tickets. The Rail Delivery Group estimated that 99% of all transactions made at ticket offices last year could be made at Ticket Vending Machines or online.
Industry is looking to expand digital ticketing options and make them even easier for passengers to use through upgrades to ticket vending machines and digitisation of more tickets and processes.
When proposing major changes to ticket office opening hours, including closures, operators are required to take into account the adequacy of the proposed alternatives in relation to the needs of all passengers. This includes ensuring that passengers can easily buy the right ticket for the journey they want to make, with consideration of the product range available at the station and what support is available to help with purchase.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of plans modernise customer service across the rail network announced by the Rail Delivery Group on 5 July 2023 on future train use by (a) existing passengers and (b) potential customers.
Answered by Huw Merriman
These reforms will bring our stations in tune with what customers expect from other, modern and responsive services, including supermarkets and banks, where customer assistants help with information, support and making digital transactions on the shop floor.
Together with industry we want to improve and modernise the passenger experience and moving staff out from behind the glass of ticket offices and into more visible and accessible roles around stations is a central part of this.
This is an industry-led process. The outcomes of the consultations will not be known until the Ticketing and Settlement Agreement process has been concluded.