Category: Transportation

  • Grant Shapps – 2022 Comments on Russian Airlines and Slots at UK Airports

    Grant Shapps – 2022 Comments on Russian Airlines and Slots at UK Airports

    The comments made by Grant Shapps, the Secretary of State for Transport, on 19 May 2022.

    The UK was one of the first nations to implement sanctions on Putin and his allies; we forbade entrance to their ships and planes, strangling them of the privilege to benefit from global trade and commerce.

    Today, the UK Government has built on the strong action we have already taken against Russia’s flagship carrier Aeroflot, along with Rossiya and Ural Airlines. This means they will be unable to use their expensive landing slots at UK airports. Our actions will also prevent Russia from selling the slots, and cashing in on up to £50 million.

  • Liz Truss – 2022 Comments on Russian Airlines and Slots at UK Airports

    Liz Truss – 2022 Comments on Russian Airlines and Slots at UK Airports

    The comments made by Liz Truss, the Foreign Secretary, on 19 May 2022.

    As long as Putin continues his barbarous assault on Ukraine, we will continue to target the Russian economy. We’ve already closed our airspace to Russian airlines. Today we’re making sure they can’t cash in their lucrative landing slots at our airports. Every economic sanction reinforces our clear message to Putin – we will not stop until Ukraine prevails.

  • Grant Shapps – 2022 Comments on the International Transport Forum

    Grant Shapps – 2022 Comments on the International Transport Forum

    The comments made by Grant Shapps, the Secretary of State for Transport, on 18 May 2022.

    Transport binds nations together for the common good. But access to the international transport network is a privilege. It requires countries to act in a responsible and respectful way to each other.

    So we cannot stand back when one state, entirely unprovoked, attacks another, killing thousands of innocent people, violating international law and breaching the UN Charter.

    The targeted destruction of one nation’s infrastructure, in particular its transport system, clearly contravenes the very foundations on which the ITF is built.

    The United Kingdom stands with our partners in condemning the outrageous actions of Vladimir Putin and the Russian military in Ukraine.

  • Grant Shapps – 2022 Comments on Nigel Steven’s Appointment as Transport Focus Chair

    Grant Shapps – 2022 Comments on Nigel Steven’s Appointment as Transport Focus Chair

    The comments made by Grant Shapps, the Secretary of State for Transport, on 16 May 2022.

    As we roll out the biggest reforms to rail in a generation and put passengers at the heart of the network, we must ensure that the industry stands ready to deliver these changes.

    Nigel has years of experience championing the needs of passengers within the transport industry and I look forward to working alongside him as we continue revolutionising our railways.

    Nigel Stevens brings decades of experience working in senior roles within the transport industry, particularly focusing on passengers, including as CEO of Transdev UK and Ireland and COO of UK and Ireland at Keolis Group.

  • Grant Shapps – 2022 Comments on the First Net Zero Transatlantic Flight

    Grant Shapps – 2022 Comments on the First Net Zero Transatlantic Flight

    The comments made by Grant Shapps, the Secretary of State for Transport, on 14 May 2022.

    This trailblazing net zero emissions flight, a world first, will demonstrate the vital role that sustainable aviation fuel can play in decarbonising aviation in line with our ambitious net zero targets.

    That’s not just great news for the environment, it’s great news for passengers who will be able to visit the Big Apple without increasing damaging greenhouse gas emissions.

    It’s crucial that we place sustainability at the heart of the aviation industry’s recovery from COVID-19 and I look forward to working with them on this challenge, which will lower the impact flying across the Atlantic has on the planet.

  • Grant Shapps – 2022 Comments on Potholes

    Grant Shapps – 2022 Comments on Potholes

    The comments made by Grant Shapps, the Secretary of State for Transport, on 13 May 2022.

    The plague of potholes is the menace of our roads. That’s why I’m ensuring companies who create them and leave roads in a poor state can be held to account more easily – protecting drivers from unfair repair costs.

    We’ve already invested billions of pounds into roads maintenance, helping local authorities keep their highways well maintained and I’ll continue working to make sure all road-users around the country can enjoy the safe, world-class infrastructure they deserve.

  • Grant Shapps – 2022 Comments on the Dartmoor Line

    Grant Shapps – 2022 Comments on the Dartmoor Line

    The comments made by Grant Shapps, the Secretary of State for Transport, on 12 May 2022.

    The huge success of the Dartmoor Line shows that when you get the service right the public will respond with increased demand.

    This is one example of the bright future in store for our railways as we begin to reform the sector in the run-up to the creation of Great British Railways. Put the customer first and you’ll get the results.

  • Trudy Harrison – 2022 Comments on Zero Emission HGVs

    Trudy Harrison – 2022 Comments on Zero Emission HGVs

    The comments made by Trudy Harrison, the Transport Minister, on 11 May 2022.

    Our road freight industry is one of the most efficient in the world and contributes over £13 billion to the UK economy each year.

    But we must accelerate our journey towards our net zero goals, and we’re committed to leading the way globally on non-zero emission road vehicles.

    Our ambitious plans will continue to ensure food is stocked on the shelves and goods are supplied while eliminating fossil fuels from HGVs and making our freight sector green for good.

  • Sadiq Khan – 2022 Statement of Opening of Crossrail (Elizabeth Line)

    Sadiq Khan – 2022 Statement of Opening of Crossrail (Elizabeth Line)

    The statement made by Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, on 4 May 2022.

    I’m delighted that our world-class new Elizabeth line will be opening to passengers later this month, helping build a better London – one which is safer, fairer, greener and more prosperous city for all Londoners.

    This is the most significant addition to our transport network in decades, and will revolutionise travel across the capital and the south east – as well as delivering a £42 billion boost to the whole UK economy and hundreds of thousands of new homes and jobs.

    Green public transport is the future and the opening of the Elizabeth line is a landmark moment for our capital and our whole country, particularly in this special Platinum Jubilee year. I’m so proud of this new line and can’t wait for millions of passengers to start riding on the Elizabeth line from 24 May.

  • Chris Loder – 2022 Speech on the Future of Rail

    Chris Loder – 2022 Speech on the Future of Rail

    The speech made by Chris Loder, the Conservative MP for West Dorset, in Westminster Hall on 26 April 2022.

    Thank you for calling me, Sir Charles. Well, with three minutes I will just get to the point, if I may.

    I appreciate the comments of the hon. Member for Ealing Central and Acton (Dr Huq). I should just say that the RMT does not quite agree with her about the London Mayor. I respectfully make that point, because the RMT has itself said that it is the London Mayor who is causing the logjam, and ultimately that has a considerable impact on the finances available. I represent a constituency that I am afraid has a three-hourly train service frequency, and when I see Transport for London getting such considerable amounts of money, it is a matter of great concern to me. That is money going to support the good people of London, rather than to support the Heart of Wessex line. I know that my hon. Friend the Minister is well aware of my strong views on that point.

    I will move on to the future of rail. I spent 20 years working for the railways before being elected to Parliament. I am not sure whether there are any Opposition Members present who used to be members of the RMT. I was once a member and should give it a big shout-out for its policy briefing, which was very interesting and for which I am grateful. The railways are very important for the future of this country. I appreciate that lots of people have strong views on where the new GB Railways HQ should be, although personally I do not think that will make much of a difference to the future capability of the railway; what will make an enormous difference is where the Government look to invest. The Government have supported the railway to the tune of £14 billion during the worst time of the pandemic. They have kept thousands of people in jobs, and they have done so to ensure that the future of our railways is extremely good and supports the future of our country.

    It is really important that we also consider the wider things that the railways have to change going forward. The railways have been marvellous in lots of ways, but the fact that it can take 12 months to change a timetable is not acceptable in the current day and age. Why is it that we have a timetable that is the same on a Monday as it is on a Friday, when we know that the demands are very different? There are fundamental changes that need to happen in order for our railways to excel.

    I am conscious of time and am grateful for the opportunity to speak in this debate. As a final point, it is really important that we remember it is not all about the cities; it is about connecting the rural areas as well—areas such as West Dorset and other parts of the country that would greatly benefit from that in the future.