Rail Review: Coronavirus

(asked on 29th June 2020) - View Source

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government why a decision was made to delay the Williams Review of rail services to assess the impact of COVID-19 on the rail sector, when the Notice to Proceed for HS2 Phase One was published without any such assessment.


Answered by
Baroness Vere of Norbiton Portrait
Baroness Vere of Norbiton
Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
This question was answered on 10th July 2020

Our wider ambitions for rail reform across the industry are unchanged, and the Department is committed to delivering on the detailed, evidence-based priorities which were established as part of the Williams Rail Review. However, in light of the current impact of COVID-19 and its potential consequences, we need to look again at how best to deliver these ambitions: to create a railway where passengers know who is in charge, that delivers value for money and that the UK can be proud of.

Following the decision to proceed with HS2 Phase One in in February, continuing with the technical step of ‘Notice-to-Proceed’ remains the right course of action. Issuing Notice to Proceed provided much-needed certainty for the construction industry and wider supply chain during the current uncertainty and allows construction of this transformational scheme to truly begin.

Work on HS2 is only taking place where it is practical and safe to do so and construction activity remains consistent with Public Health England’s guidance. We are continuing to work closely with HS2 Ltd and its contractors to assess the impact of COVID-19 on the scheme as the situation develops.

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