Tag: Baroness Randerson

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Randerson on 2015-10-26.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what progress has been made on the South East Flexible Ticketing Scheme, and whether there have been any delays to previously announced plans.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon

A review of initial proposals to make smart tickets available across the south-east with a target date of end December 2015 has led to a refocused and enhanced programme with a wider geographic scope and an improved technological approach. As part of this, a new South East Flexible Ticketing (SEFT) central back office, providing critical IT infrastructure and data processing capability, has already undergone testing and, working with industry to establish how best to offer smart ticketing to passengers in the south-east, we have already reached agreement with 5train operators, serving 73% of all rail season ticket holders in the south-east. We are continuing to work with operators to ensure full coverage of services in offering foundations for smart ticketing.

In addition, though this scheme smart season tickets are already available to customers on Govia Thameslink Railway and c2c. South West Trains and Abellio Greater Anglia plan to introduce smart seasons on their services in January 2016; Southeastern will follow at the end of 2016. The programme is planned to complete in 2018.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Randerson on 2015-10-26.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they plan to continue with the Local Sustainable Transport Fund beyond 2016; and if not, whether they plan to replace it with an alternative fund for sustainable transport.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon

All future budgets, including those for the Local Sustainable Transport Fund, remain subject to Spending Review negotiations. Further information will be made available after the outcome of the Spending Review is announced on 25 November.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Randerson on 2015-10-22.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have asked, or plan to ask, Hitachi to equip the trains that will be provided for the Great Western Mainline with diesel as well as electric engines.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon

The first 36 Intercity Express Programme (IEP) trains deployed on the Great Western lines from 2017 will be bi-modes capable of running in diesel or electric mode. The Department for Transport is actively looking at a range of options to ensure passenger benefits are delivered on time. No final decisions have been made.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Randerson on 2015-10-22.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what analysis they have conducted of the impact of having diesel and electric engines fitted to the new Hitachi Great Western Mainline trains on journey times (1) between Paddington and Cardiff, and (2) between Cardiff and Swansea.

Viscount Younger of Leckie

The Department for Transport is analysing the impact of Great Western electrification delays on the configuration of the Intercity Express Programme fleet. The analysis is looking at the timetable implications including journey times and capacity. The analysis will be informed by the recommendations made by Sir Peter Hendy. No final decisions have been made.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Randerson on 2015-10-22.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they plan to hold an inquiry into testing processes for emissions from diesel vehicles and so-called defeat” devices.”

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon

There is no plan to hold an inquiry, however, the Government is taking this issue very seriously. The Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA), the UK vehicle approval authority, is working to ensure that the use of defeat devices is not industry wide. VCA is rerunning laboratory tests starting with those VW Group engines for which VCA has provided approvals. These tests are comparing real world driving emissions against laboratory performance.

There is no evidence that these emissions tests have been falsified in the UK.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Randerson on 2015-10-22.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to bring forward the introduction of new tests for fuel emissions and fuel economy in cars.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon

The government has been at the forefront of action at a European level to ensure tests of all new passenger cars and vans accurately represent performance out on the road and ensure public confidence. We will continue to press for the introduction of real world driving emissions (RDE) and updates to the current laboratory tests at the earliest opportunity.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Randerson on 2015-10-26.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the recent recommendations in a report by Brake that local authorities need simplified powers to introduce 20 mph zones.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon

Local authorities have sufficient powers to introduce 20 mph zones. The Department issued revised guidance in January 2013 aimed mainly at traffic authorities who are responsible for setting local speed limits. This guidance was revised following full public consultation in Summer 2012 and is available online on GOV.UK

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Randerson on 2015-10-26.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether there are plans to improve the Stansted Express service from Liverpool Street to Stansted airport; and if so, what are the details of those plans.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon

The current operator is engaged in discussions with Network Rail in regard to improving Sunday service provision to Stanstead Airport. And as we have stated in the East Anglia Stakeholder Briefing Document and Consultation Response, in the next long-term franchise Stansted will be served with an earlier weekday morning service, and other measures we have specified will improve both reliability and punctuality across the franchise including the London Liverpool St to Stansted services. We are also specifying a direct Norwich to Stansted service for the new franchise.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Randerson on 2015-10-26.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have plans to reform and improve the system by which noise associated with airports is measured in order to make it more closely aligned with systems used across Europe.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon

Under the Environmental Noise Directive, major airports in the EU including the UK are required to map for noise every 5 years using the same noise metrics.

In addition, for Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted the Environmental Research and Consultancy Department of the CAA map the average summer day and night exposure contours annually. Other Airports in the UK, may map for noise using metrics they think the most appropriate.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Randerson on 2015-10-26.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether landowners in the vicinity of Victoria Station have contributed to the cost of current upgrading work there; and if not, why not.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon

Arrangements for the funding of the Victoria Station Upgrade are the responsibility of Transport for London (TfL) and the Mayor. However, I understand the scheme is funded by TfL, supported by a loan from the European Investment Bank.