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20 Dec 2005 : Column 2922W—continued
Port of Sharpness
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what security is available at the port of Sharpness; who provides the security; and how many hours per week the security is in place. [39276]
Dr. Ladyman:
Sharpness Dock is permanently covered by a port facility security plan that was approved by the Department on 28 June 2004.
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Responsibility for implementing and exercising the plan rests with the port facility security officer who received Government accredited training in January 2004.
Potters Bar Rail Crash
Mr. Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received from the Coroner of Hertfordshire regarding the Potters Bar derailment. [37938]
Derek Twigg: The Department has received several communications about the timing of the decision to be taken by the Secretary of State on a public inquiry information on the costs of holding an inquest, and a paper outlining the coroner's views on the difficulties he might face in conducting the inquest into the deaths at Potters Bar. As a result of these representations, the Secretary of State has agreed, if necessary, to fund the coroner's costs for the inquest.
Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations
Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 22 November 2005, Official Report, column 1852W, on buses, what mechanism exists to ensure that the Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations 2000 (a) are kept under review and (b) will be developed in line with technology. [39383]
Ms Buck: Regular working group meetings take place at official level with representatives of the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee. Officials also participate in international discussions, meet trade bodies, individual operators and manufacturers to ensure that standards remain appropriate and reflect developments in technology.
Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 22 November 2005, Official Report, column 1852W, on buses, who the stakeholders affected by the Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations 2000 are. [39384]
Ms Buck: The stakeholders are bus passengers, groups representing disabled people such as the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee, bus operators, vehicle manufacturers and those organisations with responsibility for funding bus services.
Public Transport Accessibility (Coventry)
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to improve access to public transport for disabled people in Coventry South. [39235]
Ms Buck: 50 percent. of Travel Coventry's bus fleet are already low floor, wheelchair accessible vehicles.
We are supporting, through the local transport plan, Coventry Primelines which is the first phase in Coventry's plans to introduce a city wide quality bus network expanding the bus showcase concept over a wider area. The programme of works include provision of bus boarders, dropped kerbs and tactile paving. There are also proposals to introduce CCTV where appropriate. The scheme started this year and is due to compete in 2009.
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At a national level there has been significant progress in making public transport accessible to disabled people through regulations made under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA 1995). We made the Rail Vehicle Accessibility Regulations in 2000 and many of the trains calling at the station comply with those. Disabled people in Coventry, for example, are benefiting from the RVAR compliant trains which are now serving their area.
More generally disabled people in Coventry South as elsewhere in the country will also benefit from the provisions in the Disability Discrimination Act 2005 (DDA 2005). We have already laid regulations which will, from December 2006, lift the transport exemption in Part 3 of the Act for land-based public transport, vehicle hire, breakdown services and vehicles used on leisure and tourism transport services. We will also be consulting shortly on draft regulations to set an end date" of no later than 1 January 2020 for when all trains will have to meet the rail vehicle accessibility regulations and to apply those regulations to older trains when they are refurbished.
Railways
Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with rail franchisees on linking extended franchise periods to increased investment in rolling stock. [37726]
Derek Twigg: Extensions to existing franchise periods are currently under discussion in only two cases; Silverlink and Central Trains. In both cases the extensions are for short periods and increased investment in rolling stock does not therefore form part of the discussions. No other extensions to existing franchises are currently planned.
Mrs. James: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what assessment he has made of the implications for high speed train passenger safety of passengers standing; and if he will make a statement; [30729]
(2) what recent discussions he has had with train operating companies on passenger health and safety during periods of overcrowding on trains. [30732]
Derek Twigg: The Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the safety regulator for the railways, has not been persuaded that there are significant safety concerns associated with standing passengers travelling on high speed (or other) trains.
A report by the Health and Safety Executive in 1999, entitled 'Implications of overcrowding on railways', concluded that whether a passenger on a train involved in an incident is sitting or standing makes little difference to the overall severity of any injuries sustained. A copy of this report is available in the House Library.
As part of the approval process for rolling stock, the HSE takes into account the safety of both seated and standing passengers. Train operators monitor the levels of crowding on their trains.
The Secretary of State has discussions with train operators on a wide range of topics, including how they respond to crowding.
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Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the average number of return journeys per week on the direct train service between Bath Spa station and London Waterloo station in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement. [31194]
Derek Twigg: The information is not available in the form requested. Ticket sales figures include London as a destination but do not distinguish between different London termini. On average, there were 4700 return journeys between Bath Spa and London termini (London Paddington or London Waterloo) each week last year. The majority of these journeys would have been to London Paddington owing to the quicker journey time. Bath Spa -London Paddington takes one hour 50 minutes. Bath Spa- London Waterloo takes two hours 40 minutes.
Mr. Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the total length of rail track in the UK is; and what it was in 1997. [5222]
Derek Twigg: Network Rail advises that its network currently comprises 10,014 route miles. In 1997–98 the network was recorded as 10,350 route miles.
Network Rail has advised that this 336 route mile difference in total network length appears to reflect primarily refinements to its methodology for collecting and collating track length data, rather than physical changes to the rail network. The Office of Rail Regulation has said that it has not specifically carried out a verification exercise on the change but believes Network Rail's explanation to be credible.
Network Rail has said that the following factors might contribute towards the 336 mile total:
transfer of ownership of route from the national to the heritage rail network e.g. Wensleydale railway.
Mr. George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on how many occasions he has met representatives of the rail franchisees; where these meetings took place; how many people where present on each occasion; and if he will place copies of the minutes of these meetings in the Library. [26516]
Derek Twigg: Ministers meet on many occasions with rail franchisees. Matters discussed at many of them are confidential for commercial or other reasons. It would not therefore be practicable or appropriate to place minutes in the Library.
Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what total (a) public and (b) private sector monies have been spent on capital infrastructure improvements on the (i) East Coast Mainline, (ii) West Coast Mainline and (iii) Paddington to Penzance line since privatisation. [27787]
Derek Twigg:
The Department does not hold detailed records on the allocation of funding for renewal and improvement of the infrastructure for individual lines. Network Rail is responsible for the maintenance of
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infrastructure, within the funding limits determined by the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR). I have requested that Network Rail write to the hon. Member with the spending figures requested.
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the (a) morning and (b) afternoon or evening (i) peak number of trains, (ii) number of passengers, (iii) number of passengers in excess capacity and (iv) proportion and total number of passengers in excess capacity was for each of the last five years for each train operating company service to and from London terminals. [34725]
Derek Twigg: Passengers in Excess of Capacity (PIXC) applies to weekday commuter trains arriving in London between 07:00 and 09:59 and those departing between 16:00 and 18:59. The measure is derived from the number of passengers travelling in excess of capacity on all services divided by the total number of people travelling, expressed as a percentage. PIXC counts are carried out once a year, on a typical weekday during the autumn.
Focus is being given to improve timetabling, infrastructure maintenance, renewals and other factors that can impact on reliable delivery of train services, which in turn will impact on crowding levels. The Department will continue to review train counts and train plans to gain comfort that resources are being deployed effectively.
Mr. Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what efficiency and performance targets will be set for the new East Midlands rail franchise; and what sanctions will be imposed if the operator fails to meet them. [36630]
Derek Twigg: The specification of the new East Midlands franchise, including performance targets is currently being developed by the Department of Transport. The franchise specification is expected to go out to public consultation in summer 2006.
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the average percentage change in rail fares was in each year since 1997. [38461]
Derek Twigg: Fares increased on average by 6.3 percent. in real terms from 1995 to 2005. Regulated fares (most commuter fares plus saver returns) decreased by 4.2 percent. over the same period.
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people have been employed by (a) train operating companies and (b) railway companies in each year since 1997. [38462]
Derek Twigg: The data requested is not held by the Department and the information requested can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many passengers the UK's railways can transport at any one time. [38464]
Derek Twigg:
There are an average of 3 million passenger journeys each day within the United Kingdom.
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Passenger numbers are increasing with patronage up 40 per cent. in the last 10 years. Britain has the fastest growing passenger use in Europe. Over 1 billion passengers used the UK railway in 2004.
Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 13 December 2005, Official Report, column 1857W, on First Great Western Services, by whom records on the reliability and punctuality of railservices between London and Worcestershire are kept. [38542]
Derek Twigg: Records on the reliability and punctuality of rail services at the level of detail needed to establish the level of performance between London and Worcestershire are held by Network Rail.
Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the implications of his policy of promoting traffic restraint in major regional cities for the level of passenger rolling stock required for the commuter rail networks serving those cities. [38702]
Derek Twigg: It is for local transport authorities to determine the appropriate balance between transport modes in the context of their local transport plans and policies. As part of this process, they will need to take account of the capacity of their regional rail networks. The Department will continue to consult with relevant local transport authorities in developing the future specification of the railway.
Mrs. James: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent campaigns his Department has undertaken to tackle trespass on the railways by children. [38228]
Derek Twigg: Ministers have discussed with the industry action to reduce trespass and have supported initiatives undertaken by Partners Against Railway Crime, a partnership of rail industry organisations which co-ordinates campaigns to reduce trespass on the network. Activities specifically targeting at children have been branded as part of the track off' campaign and have included free resources for use in schools (including video material), teaching plans, community newsletters and speakers for talks in schools.
Anne Moffat: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many times he met Network Rail in 2005; and what was discussed. [28841]
Derek Twigg:
Ministers meet representatives of Network Rail on many occasions and a range of subjects are discussed.
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Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will lift the moratorium on considering rail passenger partnership support for the Newcastle-Blyth-Ashington rail line. [38025]
Derek Twigg [holding answer 15 December 2005]: There are no plans to re-instate the rail passenger partnership funding programme.
Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will arrange for the publication of the full report and background paper produced for the Strategic Rail Authority on a north-south high speed rail line. [38179]
Derek Twigg: A summary of the Strategic Rail Authority's report on a north-south high-speed rail line is available in the House Library and from the Department for Transport's website.
The full report is confidential because it includes potential route alignments, and could lead to severe planning blight if released.
The Government has a manifesto commitment to look at the north-south high-speed link. This will be taken forward in the context of Sir Rod Eddington's study and the high-level output specification for the railways.
Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to his answer of 29 November 2005, Official Report, column 329W, on train operating companies, what the net performance bonus for each qualifying train operating company was in each year between 1997–98 and 2004–05; and what the difference between performance penalties and net performance bonuses was (a) for all train operating companies combined in each year between 1997–98 and 2004–05 and (b) for each train operating company during the period 1997–98 to 2004–05. [36906]
Derek Twigg: The performance regime the Department has in place with franchised train operators takes account of all train lateness on a train-by-train basis. When financial calculations are made every four-weeks, a single payment encompasses all the bonus and penalty elements occurring during that time period. These in turn aggregate into annual sums shown on the following table, which represent the net performance bonus to (or penalty payment from), each train operating company in each year requested. The amount shown is therefore the overall difference between performance penalties and bonuses.
In addition to my answer of 29 November 2005, Official Report, columns 329–30W, I regret that an error occurred when the penalty cost figures quoted in my earlier answer were being compiled. The following table gives corrected figures.
Notes:
1. Brackets indicate penalty payment by the operator shown.
2. Unbracketed numbers indicate bonus payments to the operator concerned.
3. No number entry indicates that the operator did not exist in the year concerned or was not subject to a performance regime during that year.
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Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will undertake an investigation into reliability of trains on Great Western lines; and if he will suspend the franchise process until reliability has improved. [36914]
Derek Twigg: Joint action plans are in place between Network Rail (who have overall responsibility for performance) and First Great Western and Wessex Trains to address performance trends. These are monitored monthly.
The new Great Western franchise awarded to First Group plc, announced on 13 December contains clear and improving performance targets which the operator must meet.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions he has had on imposing penalties on train operating companies for operating trains that are overcrowded; and if he will make a statement. [37964]
Derek Twigg: There are no proposals to apply penalties to train operating companies where trains are overcrowded. Train operators and Network Rail work together to make best use of available capacity to reduce overcrowding.
Focus is being given to improve timetabling, infrastructure maintenance and renewals and other factors that can impact on reliable delivery of train services, which in turn will impact on crowding levels. We will continue to review train counts and train plans to assess that resources are being deployed effectively.
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many trains have been removed from service in each year since 1997. [38421]
Derek Twigg:
This information is not held centrally by the Department. However following major investment in the network, a total of around 4200 new
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vehicles have been brought into service since 1996. This has resulted in the replacement of around 2000 Mark 1 slam door vehicles. It has also led to complete fleet replacements on the C2C, West Coast and Cross Country passenger services and replacement of some vehicles on other routes which were approaching the end of their operating life.
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many people have been carried on the UK's trains in each year since 1997; and how many people he expects to be carried in each of the next five years; [38423]
(2) how many passengers used the railways in each year since 1997. [38458]
Derek Twigg: Information on the numbers of passengers that have used the railways in each year since 1997, is contained in the Office of Rail Regulation's publication, National Rail Trends, a copy of which has been placed in the House Library.
The Department for Transport's latest published projections for rail usage are set out in the paper The Future of Transport: Modelling and Analysis" published on 21 March 2005. The central projection shows rail passenger kilometres increasing by 33 percent. between 2000 and 2010 implying growth of around 3.5 percent. a year for the rest of the decade.
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many new trains have been purchased in each year since 1997; and what the cost of each new train was. [38463]
Derek Twigg:
The information is as follows:
20 Dec 2005 : Column 2931W
Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what models of break-glass hammers have been considered for approval for use on trains but have not been approved; and for what reasons in each case; [33691]
(2) what the assessment process is for the evaluation of break-glass hammers for trains to determine whether they are fit for purpose. [33717]
(3) what models of break-glass hammers are approved for use on trains. [33718]
Derek Twigg:
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is the independent health and safety regulator for rail. The emergency evacuation arrangements of rail carriages are approved by the HSE under the Railways and Transport Systems (Approval of Works, Plant and Equipment) Regulations 1964 (ROTS). These regulations require the train operator companies to ensure that break-glass
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hammers are fit for the purpose to which they are installed. HSE do not hold on record the types of hammers considered by train operators.
The Rail Safety and Standards Board is currently undertaking research to determine the appropriate requirements for break-glass hammers as part of wider research into train evacuation.
Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what criteria are used for selecting models of break-glass hammers for approved use on trains. [36331]
Derek Twigg: It is the responsibility of the train operating company to ensure that the break-glass hammers they select and bring into service are fit for purpose. HSE do not themselves hold records on the types of hammers considered by train operating companies or the selection criteria used.
Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects his Department's assessment of break-glass hammers for trains to be completed. [36343]
Derek Twigg: The DfT is not conducting an assessment of break-glass hammers although the Rail Safety and Standards Board are currently undertaking research into passenger emergency evacuation procedures. This will include an assessment of the effectiveness of break-glass hammers.
RSSB anticipate the assessment of break-glass hammers to be complete by Quarter 2 (April—June) 2006 with the whole report planned for completion by Quarter 3 (July—September) 2006.
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