Tag: Lilian Greenwood

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lilian Greenwood on 2016-04-14.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has received representations from Virgin Trains or Stagecoach since 1 April 2015 on potential variations to the current Intercity East Coast franchise agreement.

Claire Perry

As with all Franchise Agreements, negotiations take place between the Franchise Operator and the Department, and since 1 April 2015 we regularly meet with Virgin Trains East Coast to discuss progress and potential changes to the Franchise Agreement.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lilian Greenwood on 2016-05-03.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to paragraph 3.1 of his Department’s Single departmental plan 2015 to 2020, published on 19 February 2016, what percentage of the strategic road network had a (a) charging point and (b) rapid charging point for electric vehicles every 20 miles on the most recent date for which figures are available.

Andrew Jones

Highways England is analysing current provision of chargepoints on the strategic road network, and will then address gaps and work towards ensuring motorists have a chargepoint available every 20 miles. Progress to date has been encouraging, with 96% of motorway service areas now having at least one rapid chargepoint.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lilian Greenwood on 2016-05-04.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the potential effect of the latest version of the Fourth Railway Package would be on the ability of his Department to directly award passenger service contracts to public sector operators, as defined by section 25(1) of the Railways Act 1993.

Mr Robert Goodwill

The Fourth Railway Package has no impact on this provision of domestic primary legislation, which prohibits the award of passenger rail franchises to public sector operators. The EU legislation would not itself prohibit awards to public service operators if in future the domestic prohibition were removed. Similarly, section 30 of the Railways Act 1993, which puts the franchising authority under a duty to secure the continuity of services – including by directly operating the services – will continue to apply.

The current text of the Fourth Railway Package permits direct awards, including to public sector operators, in a range of circumstances including where they can be justified by the characteristics of the network and potential benefits to passengers.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lilian Greenwood on 2016-05-24.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what information his Department holds on how many diesel vehicles there were in the UK by (a) Euro 1, (b) Euro 2, (c) Euro 3, (d) Euro 4, (e) Euro 5, (f) Euro 6 emission categories on the most recent date for which figures are available; and how many vehicles there were on that date that did not conform to a Euro emissions standard.

Andrew Jones

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing database does not include the Euro Emission Standard. However, it does contain the year of first registration from which the number can be estimated.

The estimated number of diesel cars licensed at the end of December 2015 that were first registered during the period of which each of the Euro standards were in place are as follows:-

Pre Euro 1	11,083
Euro 1	47,336
Euro 2	216,309
Euro 3	2,191,698
Euro 4	3,887,142
Euro 5	4,802,451
Euro 6	474,970

There were 296,788 cars that were imports or older cars for which the date of first registration is unknown.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lilian Greenwood on 2016-06-13.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 8 June 2016 to Question 39089, on railway signals, and with reference to Network Rail’s press release of 29 May 2014, entitled Britain’s rail revolution quickens pace as first contracts for new traffic management technology are awarded, what the reason is for the difference in the values for Network Rail’s traffic management first deployment contract.

Claire Perry

In the 29 May 2014 press release, Network Rail quoted the cost incurred with the supplier, whereas the answer to Question 39089 stated the total deployment cost, which also includes installation and operational costs.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lilian Greenwood on 2016-06-15.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has issued (a) an enforcement order, (b) a provisional enforcement order or a remedial plan notice against Govia Thameslink Railway.

Claire Perry

No enforcement order has been issued against Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR). A remedial plan notice was issued in July 2015 and the Remedial Plan was agreed between the Department for Transport and GTR in February this year.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lilian Greenwood on 2016-07-20.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much his Department has spent in addition to his Department’s obligations under franchise agreements on driver training or driver recruitment by each train operating company since May 2010.

Paul Maynard

None, as this falls under the franchise agreement and is for the Train Operating Companies to spend.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lilian Greenwood on 2015-10-28.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to his Department’s press release, Government to overhaul young driver rules in bid to improve safety and cut insurance costs, issued 25 March 2013, when heplans to publish the Green Paper on young drivers referred to in that press release.

Andrew Jones

Every death is a tragedy and is one too many. However, there is a difficult balance to strikebetween the safety and the freedom of our young drivers, and we are currentlyundertaking research into how to make our roads safer. We will explore optionsaround how to improve learning to drive and encouraging people to practice morebefore they take their test.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lilian Greenwood on 2015-12-14.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to page 6 of Sir Peter Hendy’s report on the replanning of Network Rail’s Investment Programme, published on 25 November 2015, if he will publish an analysis by cost heading of the £2.8 billion estimate of the cost of Great Western Main Line electrification.

Claire Perry

As the Sir Peter Hendy report states, ‘work to update the programme for Great Western Electrification is being concluded as this report is completed. The latest estimates for cost and delivery milestones have been reflected in this report although this is still subject to final review. Electrification to Cardiff is planned to be completed in Control Period 5 (2014-19) within the estimated total cost of £2.8 billion (in 2012-13 prices). As elements of the design programme mature, a more accurate assessment of the cost and delivery schedule will be established.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lilian Greenwood on 2016-01-13.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the gauge clearance is of routes used to divert freight services disrupted by the temporary closure of the West Coast Main Line north of Carlisle.

Claire Perry

This is an operational matter for Network Rail. Network Rail advises that the current published freight clearances by diversionary route are as follows:

i. The freight clearance for the diversion via the East Coast Main Line is W9.

ii. The published freight clearance for the diversions via Glasgow & South Western Route and the route between Kilmarnock and Barassieare both W8.

iii. The published freight clearance for the diversion via Mauchline to Newton on Ayr is W7

However, in response to the situation at Lamington, Network Rail has confirmed clearance to move certain types of larger deep-sea containers on both the Glasgow & South Western Route and the Newton on Ayr route.