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Written Question
Transpennine Express Rail Franchise
Monday 22nd January 2024

Asked by: Clive Betts (Labour - Sheffield South East)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what information his Department holds on the number of carriages on the TransPennine express service which will be scrapped by April 2024.

Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

The Department is not aware of any plans by rolling stock owners to scrap carriages currently on lease to TransPennine Trains. The operator plans to return 66 Mark 5A carriages, which are currently surplus to requirements, to their owner Beacon Rail Leasing.


Written Question
TransPennine Express Rail Franchise
Tuesday 16th May 2023

Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure the operator of last resort running the Transpennine Route will improve service reliability.

Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

The Department’s Rail North Partnership with Transport for the North will provide its full support as TPE transitions across to the operator of last resort and in working to address the performance issues which have affected passengers. However, making these improvements will also require support from the rail unions. There is a fair and reasonable pay offer from industry on the table in exchange for much needed workforce reform and we urge striking unions to accept this and allow their members to have a say and to start putting passengers first. A similar offer was accepted at Network Rail, bringing an end to the industrial relations dispute.


Written Question
TransPennine Express Rail Franchise
Thursday 27th April 2023

Asked by: Louise Haigh (Labour - Sheffield, Heeley)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to Clause 2.2 (Additional Reporting Periods) on page 16 of the First TransPennine Express Limited 2021 rail contract, whether the Secretary of State gave notice to the Operator of a reporting period extension by 23.59 on the 4th March 2023.

Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

The Transpennine Express contract expires on 28 May 2023. No decision has yet been taken, all options remain on the table, and next steps will be announced in due course.


Written Question
TransPennine Express Rail Franchise
Thursday 27th April 2023

Asked by: Louise Haigh (Labour - Sheffield, Heeley)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to his oral evidence before the Transport Select Committee, Q590 on 19 April 2023, what legal considerations are relevant that could prevent the Trans Pennine Express contract from expiring on 28 May 2023.

Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

Any decision on the future operator of the TransPennine Express contract will be made in accordance with the Secretary of State’s published Section 26 Statement, which sets out the policy on the letting of passenger rail contracts.


Written Question
TransPennine Express Rail Franchise
Thursday 20th April 2023

Asked by: Jeff Smith (Labour - Manchester, Withington)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he plans to end the TransPennine Express contract in May 2023.

Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

Every week I review the figures and performance related to TransPennine Express. It has been said before that those figures are not good enough; there has been some improvement, but they are still not good enough. As the Prime Minister and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State have informed the House, the contract expires on 28 May 2023. We have made clear that all options are on the table and a decision will be announced in the House shortly.


Written Question
TransPennine Express Rail Franchise
Tuesday 28th February 2023

Asked by: Dan Carden (Labour - Liverpool, Walton)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he plans to end the Trans Pennine Express contract in May 2023.

Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

The Department in partnership with Transport for the North will make an announcement in due course.


Written Question
Transpennine Express Rail Franchise
Monday 20th February 2023

Asked by: Louise Haigh (Labour - Sheffield, Heeley)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he held discussions with TransPennine express on the extension of the First TransPennine Express Limited 2021 rail contract on the 8 February 2023.

Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

I am having weekly meetings with Rail North Partnership (RNP) officials to monitor TransPennine Express (TPE)’s performance and the Secretary of State and I met TPE’s managing director and the Managing Director of First Rail to discuss TPE’s service improvement plan.


Written Question
South Western Rail Franchise and Transpennine Express: Contracts
Monday 14th June 2021

Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what performance indicators and other criteria will trigger a bonus payment under the terms of new National Rail Contracts his Department has signed for the (a) TransPennine Express and (b) and South Western Rail franchise.

Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

Under the National Rail Contracts, performance of an operator is measured against four criteria – Operational Performance; Customer Experience; Financial Performance; and Business Management. The assessment is as objective as possible, using a mix of criteria-based, qualitative scorecard assessments and quantified target measures, where practical. Performance payments are achieved solely on meeting outcomes defined within the contract – for example delivering a punctual service.


Written Question
Transpennine Express Rail Franchise: Kingston upon Hull
Tuesday 13th April 2021

Asked by: Diana Johnson (Labour - Kingston upon Hull North)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Minister of State in his Department has plans to visit and meet with TransPennine Express operators at Hull Station.

Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Ministers very much look forward to visiting a range of stations and locations in due course once circumstances allow


Written Question
TransPennine Express Rail Franchise
Wednesday 22nd January 2020

Asked by: Jonathan Reynolds (Labour (Co-op) - Stalybridge and Hyde)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions officials of his Department has had with representatives of TransPennine Express on the future of that franchise following the proposed changes to the Northern franchise.

Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

The Department is in the process of developing plans to replace the current Northern franchise with either a new short-term management contract with Arriva Rail North, or the Operator of Last Resort (OLR) and a decision will be made by the end of January. In the meantime we continue to challenge TPE on making improvements for rail passengers. We have been clear with the operator that it must take urgent steps to address its poor performance problems and indeed only last week my Rt Hon Friend the Secretary of State called in executives from TPE and other industry bodies to reinforce this point. If appropriate, we will take action under the terms set out in the Franchise Agreement.