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  • Mark Hendrick – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Mark Hendrick – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Hendrick on 2015-02-20.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions his Department has had with bidders for the Northern Rail franchise covering the Colne to Blackpool South service via Preston on the replacement of Pacer trains with rolling stock that has not previously been used on London Underground.

    Claire Perry

    The Department has held discussions with bidders for the Northern franchise to discuss and receive feedback on a range of specification areas, including rolling stock and the intended service specifications across the new franchise.

    Our specifications for the Northern franchise will be set out in the Invitation to Tender document, which will be published shortly.

  • Karl Turner – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Karl Turner – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Karl Turner on 2015-02-20.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what input Rail North will have into formulating the response to the consultation for the Northern Rail and TransPennine express franchise; and whether this response will be a joint response with his Department.

    Claire Perry

    We have been working closely with Rail North on the response to the Northern and TransPennine Express consultation, which has been developed jointly and will be published as a joint document.

  • Karl Turner – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Karl Turner – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Karl Turner on 2015-02-20.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what operational regulations or arrangements are in place to ensure that Northern Rail and TransPennine Express services always have another member of staff on board the train in addition to the driver.

    Claire Perry

    The Department does not specify the numbers of staff or how they should be deployed, as this is something that the operators are much better placed to understand and manage than we are.

    Train operating companies have to abide by all appropriate health and safety requirements.

  • Karl Turner – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Karl Turner – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Karl Turner on 2015-02-20.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what powers he has to vary, suspend and terminate the current tendering process for Northern Rail and TransPennine Express franchises.

    Claire Perry

    As part of the Department’s standard procurement process, the Secretary of State expressly reserves the right to make whatever changes he sees fit to the structure and timing of the procurement process or to cancel the process in its entirety at any stage. This arrangement is not particular to the Northern and Transpennine Express franchises.

  • Karl Turner – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Karl Turner – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Karl Turner on 2015-02-20.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, for how long Pacer trains will continue to operate on Northern Rail services; and when all Pacer trains will be retired.

    Claire Perry

    We are committed to improving services for passengers across the North. We recognise that Pacers fall short of passengers’ expectations, which is why in our Invitation To Tender, we will specifically ask bidders to set out plans for how they will phase out these trains from the Northern Rail franchise, either in their core proposition or as an option.

    Sadly, the last Northern franchise, let in 2004, contained no such provision.

    Further details will be set out in the Invitation To Tender for the Northern franchise, which will be published shortly.

  • Karl Turner – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Karl Turner – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Karl Turner on 2015-02-20.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, on how many occasions representatives of his Department have met Rail North since the close of the consultation for the Northern Rail and TransPennine Express franchises; and who represented Rail North at each such meeting.

    Claire Perry

    We have been working closely with Rail North on developing the specifications for the Invitation To Tenders, with Rail North officers embedded with the Department’s project teams for many months. In addition Rail North senior managers have attended regular meetings with the Department. Officials from the Department have also met with and presented to Rail North Leaders.

  • Karl Turner – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Karl Turner – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Karl Turner on 2015-02-20.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether each local authority comprising Rail North will be asked to approve that body’s response to the consultation for the Northern Rail and TransPennine Express franchises.

    Claire Perry

    We have been working closely with Rail North on the response to the Northern and TransPennine Express consultation, which has been developed jointly. Rail North have confirmed through their own processes that they are in agreement with publishing the response as a joint document.

  • Karl Turner – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Karl Turner – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Karl Turner on 2015-02-20.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the existing Rail North board will be asked to assist in formulating the response to the consultation for the Northern Rail and TransPennine Express franchises.

    Claire Perry

    We have been working closely with Rail North on the response to the Northern and TransPennine Express consultation, which has been developed jointly and will be published as a joint document.

  • Karl Turner – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Karl Turner – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Karl Turner on 2015-02-20.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, which staff of Rail North will be involved in formulating the response to the consultation for the Northern Rail and TransPennine Express franchises.

    Claire Perry

    We have been working closely with Rail North on the response to the Northern and TransPennine Express consultation, which has been developed jointly and will be published as a joint document. Rail North officers and senior managers have been involved in the formulation of the response to the consultation.

  • Steve McCabe – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Steve McCabe – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Steve McCabe on 2015-02-20.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many complaints the DVLA has received about delays in completing a review of an individual’s medical information in relation to a driving licence in each year since 2010.

    Claire Perry

    Specific reasons for complaints about drivers’ medical cases, such as delays, are not available for 2010 to 2013 and are only available for 2014 onwards. For 2014, there were 2275 complaints due to delays in reviewing medical information.

    Data on the total number of complaints about medical driving licence issues since 2010 is held, however, and over the last five years this equates to 0.3% of the total number of applications that required a medical investigation.