Asked by: Rob Roberts (Independent - Delyn)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the status of the planning and scoping process is for electrification of the North Wales mainline as of 27 February 2024.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
We are working closely with the rail industry to develop the Government priorities outlined in the Prime Minister’s Network North announcement, which includes an unprecedented £1 billion investment to fund the electrification of the North Wales Main Line. We are in the early stages of establishing the next steps for the North Wales electrification scheme, including the costs and programme for development and delivery. We will share further information when that work is complete.
Asked by: Daniel Kawczynski (Conservative - Shrewsbury and Atcham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an assessment of the implications for his policies of the decision by Avanti West Coast to withdraw the daily direct service between Shrewsbury and London after June 2024.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
While Avanti will be withdrawing this service due to the very low number of passengers who use it, West Midlands Trains has plans to ramp up the number of trains between Shropshire towns and Birmingham, while Avanti is looking to increase fast services between Birmingham and London. This will bring greater benefits to more passengers in the West Midlands. Furthermore, the Wrexham, Shropshire & Midlands Railway Company has applied to operate services between Wrexham General and London Euston, which would include calling at Shrewsbury and other stations in North Wales and the West Midlands. While it is ultimately a decision for the Office of Rail and Road whether to approve this application, the Rail Minister has set out his support.
Asked by: Lord Wigley (Plaid Cymru - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government when they expect work on electrifying the rail line between Crewe and Holyhead to start; what estimate they have made of the cost of this work; and when they expect the project to be completed.
Answered by Lord Davies of Gower - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
We are working closely with the rail industry to develop and deliver on the Government priorities outlined in the Prime Minister’s Network North announcement, which includes an unprecedented £1 billion investment to fund the electrification of the North Wales Main Line. We are in the early stages of planning the next steps for the North Wales electrification scheme, including the costs and programme for development and delivery. We will share further information when that work is complete.
Asked by: Stephen Morgan (Labour - Portsmouth South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much and what proportion of his Department's budget has been allocated for track renewals in England and Wales in the next five years.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Track renewals are funded by Network Rail from the £44.1 billion provided by the Government to fund Network Rail’s operations, maintenance and renewal activity in Control Period 7 (the period from April 2024 to March 2029). Network Rail plans expenditure of roughly £3.5 billion on track renewals in England and Wales in Control Period 7.
Asked by: Stephen Morgan (Labour - Portsmouth South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has made an estimate of the length of rail tracks in miles that will be electrified in 2024.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The estimated number of electrified Single Track Miles (STM) that will be added to the network in England and Wales during 2024 is approximately 66 STM. This includes 20 STM as part of the Transpennine Route Upgrade and 46 STM on the Midlands Main Line between Kettering and Wigston.
This will be reflected in the Office for Road and Rail’s Rail Infrastructure and Assets data report as per the financial year that each project is completed.
From 2010/11 to 2022/23, around 1265 miles of track were electrified in Great Britain.
Asked by: Stephen Morgan (Labour - Portsmouth South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to help support Network Rail to respond to (a) severe weather and (b) other emergencies.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Network Rail and the wider industry are responsible for managing the effects of any risks affecting railway operations, and in anticipation of incidents, such as extreme weather conditions, industry works together to implement the necessary mitigations to ensure safety and minimise disruption.
In 2022 the Department for Transport published the High-Level Output Specification (HLOS) which outlines the Secretary of State’s objectives for Network Rail’s operation, maintenance and renewal of railway infrastructure in England and Wales between 2024 and 2029—tied to a £44.1 billion funding settlement. The HLOS is clear that the rail network must be as resilient as reasonably possible to the effects of climate change and extreme weather.
The Department works with Network Rail on preparations for a range of emergencies and civil contingencies, including sharing relevant risk assessments and supporting collaboration with partner organisations. When major emergencies affecting the railway occur, the Department engages closely with Network Rail to support effective collaboration and coordination across the rail industry. Network Rail has set aside £1.5 billion in risk funding for the next 5 years, as part of a process run and assured by the independent regulator, the Office of Rail and Road. This will help Network Rail manage the impact of unexpected events and emergencies.
Asked by: Stephen Morgan (Labour - Portsmouth South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of recent trends in the number of point failures on the track between London Paddington and Reading.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Improving performance on the Great Western Main Line is a high priority for Network Rail and my Department. Passengers are not getting the level of service they deserve, although improvements are starting to show in the most recent rail period in terms of delay minutes. The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) has launched an investigation into poor train punctuality and reliability in the Network Rail Wales & Western Region and we look forward to the recommendations of this review.
I have been working closely with Network Rail on this issue over recent months including reviewing their improvement plan and joining a deep dive session to discuss progress against that plan. I also regularly discuss the issue with Network Rail Chief Executive Andrew Haines and am shortly due to meet with Rob Cairns, Network Rail’s Interim Managing Director for Western and Wales to reinforce the need for rapid improvements in performance.
Asked by: Stephen Morgan (Labour - Portsmouth South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with Network Rail on recent point failures between London Paddington and Reading.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Improving performance on the Great Western Main Line is a high priority for Network Rail and my Department. Passengers are not getting the level of service they deserve, although improvements are starting to show in the most recent rail period in terms of delay minutes. The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) has launched an investigation into poor train punctuality and reliability in the Network Rail Wales & Western Region and we look forward to the recommendations of this review.
I have been working closely with Network Rail on this issue over recent months including reviewing their improvement plan and joining a deep dive session to discuss progress against that plan. I also regularly discuss the issue with Network Rail Chief Executive Andrew Haines and am shortly due to meet with Rob Cairns, Network Rail’s Interim Managing Director for Western and Wales to reinforce the need for rapid improvements in performance.
Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the budget for rail enhancements in England and Wales between 2024 and 2029 is.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The rail enhancement budget has been separated from the overall Network Rail Operations Maintenance and Renewals budget, known as the Statement of Funds Available, since 2018. The government published its approach to rail enhancements across England and Wales in the Rail Network Enhancements Pipeline[1] (RNEP) in 2018.
Since Spending Review 2021 we have spent around £2bn a year on rail enhancements on the conventional network. Major projects, including HS2, Crossrail and East West Rail, are funded separately. As previously, the RNEP budget beyond the current Spending Review period (ending in 24/25) will be set at future fiscal events.
[1] Rail network enhancements pipeline - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Asked by: Stephen Morgan (Labour - Portsmouth South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions he has had with Network Rail on track faults on the Great Western Main Line.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Improving performance on the Great Western Main Line is a high priority for Network Rail and my Department. Passengers are not getting the level of service they deserve, although improvements are starting to show in the most recent rail period in terms of delay minutes. The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) has launched an investigation into poor train punctuality and reliability in the Network Rail Wales & Western Region and we look forward to the recommendations of this review.
I have been working closely with Network Rail on this issue over recent months including reviewing their improvement plan and joining a deep dive session to discuss progress against that plan. I also regularly discuss the issue with the Network Rail Chief Executive Andrew Haines and am shortly due to meet with Rob Cairns, Network Rail’s Interim Managing Director for Western and Wales to reinforce the need for rapid improvements in performance.