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Network Rail

Mr. Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many (a) ships and (b) boats are owned by Network Rail; at what cost; and for what purpose they are maintained. [56374]

Derek Twigg [holding answer 6 March 2006]: This is an operational matter for Network Rail. I have asked Network Rail to reply directly to the right hon. Member.
 
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North-east to South Transport Links

Mrs. Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps have been taken since 2001 to improve road and rail links from the North East to the South; and what further plans there are for such links. [54153]

Ms Buck: The Secretary of State for Transport through his Department, its agencies and with partners has delivered, and continues to develop, both road and rail projects to enhance the connectivity within and beyond the North East of England.

In many cases, improvements to infrastructure elsewhere in the country will bring benefits to travellers to and from the North East. In terms of the national road network, table 1 following gives details of Highways Agency schemes in the Targeted Programme of Improvements (TPI) while table 2 relates to projects under development. These tables concentrate on north—south routes.
Table 1—targeted programme of improvements

Government office	Targeted programme of improvements (TPI) scheme names	Scheme category	Scheme in preparation	Scheme on site	Scheme completed	Date entered TPI	Comments
North East	A1 Willowburn—Denwick Improvement	—	—	—	Y	—	Completed March 2003
York and Humber	A1(M) Ferrybridge—Hook Moor	W	—	Y	—	—	Under construction
York and Humber	A1 (M) Wetherby—Walshford	W	—	—	Y	—	Completed August 2005
East Midlands	A1 Peterborough—Blyth GSJ	J	Y	—	—	Added to TPI March 2001	—
York and Humber	A1 Dishforth to Leeming	W	Y	—	—	Added to TPI June 2002	—
York and Humber	A1 Bramham—Wetherby (including Wetherby Bypass	W	Y	—	—	Added to TPI June 2002	—
York and Humber	A1 Leeming to Barton	W	Y	—	—	Added to TPI June 2002	—
North East	A1 Stannington Junction	J	—	—	Y	Added to TPI October 2002	Completed October 2004
North East	A1 Morpeth—Felton Dualling	W	Y	—	—	Added to TPI July 2003	Subject to regional priorities
North East	A1 Adderstone—Belford Dualling	W	Y	—	—	Added to TPI July 2003	Subject to regional priorities
North East	A1/A19/A1068 Seaton Burn Junction Improvement	J	Y	—	—	Added to TPI July 2003	Subject to regional priorities
East Midlands	M1 J19	J	Y	—	—	Added to TPI February 2003	—
East Midlands	M1 J6A-10 Widening	W	Y	—	—	Added to TPI July 2003	—
East Midlands	M1 J10–13 Widening	W	Y	—	—	Added to TPI July 2003	—
East Midlands	M1 J21–30	W	Y	—	—	Added to TPI 13 April 2004	—
East Midlands	M1 J30–31 Widening	W	Y	—	—	Added to TPI 24 March 2005	—
York and Humber	M1 J31–32 Widening	W	Y	—	—	Added to TPI 24 March 2005	—
York and Humber	M1 J32–34S Widening	W	Y	—	—	Added to TPI 24 March 2005	—
York and Humber	M1 J34N-37 Widening	W	Y	—	—	Added to TPI 24 March 2005	—
York and Humber	M1 J37–39 Widening	W	Y	—	—	Added to TPI 24 March 2005	—
York and Humber	M1 J39–42 Widening	W	Y	—	—	Added to TPI 24 March 2005	—
York and Humber	M1 J31–32 Northbound Collector/Distributor	W	Y	—	—	Added to TPI 24 March 2005	—
North East	A19/A184 Testos Grade Separated Junction	J	Y	—	—	Added to TPI July 2003	Subject to regional priorities

W = widening
J = junction improvement





 
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Table 2—schemes under development

Scheme name	Government office	Current position
A1 Newcastle and Gateshead Western Bypass	North East	Work on identifying a suitable scheme, in association with regional partners, is progressing
A1 West Mains to Bridge Mill Dualling	North East	Under development
A19 Moor Farm Roundabout Improvement	North East	Subject to regional priorities
A19/Coast Road Improvement	North East	Subject to regional priorities
A1 Redhouseto Darrington Improvement	Yorkshire and the Humber	Subject to regional priorities
A1(M)J35toJ38	Yorkshire and the Humber	Subject to regional priorities
A1 Jockey Lane Grade Separated Junction	East Midlands	Under development
A1(M)J6–8	East	Subject to regional priorities
A1 Brampton—Alconbury	East	Under development
A1—Sandy and Beeston Bypass	East	Subject to regional priorities

In respect of rail, this year the Government are spending £87 million every week to improve the railways. This commitment to our rail network is helping to bring in further substantial investment from the private sector. The Government are investing an unprecedented amount of money in the rail network to address decades of under-investment.
 
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In terms of specific rail activity, table 3 provides details of key improvements to both infrastructure and services since 2001 and plans currently under consideration.

In addition, since 2001, over the five year life of the first Local Transport Plans the North East Local Authorities have received in excess of £500 million to invest in capital works in the region.
Table 3—rail

	Key improvements/plans
Services	Currently half-hourly service from London to North East on the East Coast Main Line but, by Dec 2007, the new franchise requires GNER to put in 2 further services from Newcastle to London on Sundays. GNER have already put in place an hourly bus link between Darlington Station and Durham Tees Valley Airport.
Infrastructure	New infrastructure at Allington Chord was put in place to alleviate a bottleneck on the ECML and increase reliability and capacity of GNER services.
In development	Capacity pressures on cross-country services between WM, NE and SW are being examined as part of the re-franchising process.
	Future documents that will provide a picture of rail services in the NE and a framework for options for change includes—ECML Route Utilisation Strategy (RUS)—RUS are Network Rail's examination of how to make best use of the capacity available on the route. ECML RUS currently being developed, and expected to be published later in the year.

Overground Train Services (London)

Mr. Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what responsibility he has transferred to Transport for London for the (a) provision and (b) regulation of overground train services in London; and what plans he has to make further such transfers. [54560]

Ms Buck: Responsibility for the provision of the Silverlink Metro" group of services will be transferred to Transport for London on 11 November 2007.

Transport for London were passed the responsibility for taking forward the East London Line Extension in November 2004 and will be responsible for passenger services operating on this route, which are expected to begin in 2009–10.

There are currently no plans to transfer further responsibilities on London rail services to Transport for London.

Parking (Peterborough)

Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much income was derived from parking by Peterborough city council in each year between 2002–03 and 2004–05; and how much of that income came from (a) charges and (b) penalties in each year. [55025]

Ms Buck: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 27 February 2006, Official Report, column 155W. Figures for 2002–03 and 2003–04 are in the Libraries of the House.

Railways

Mr. Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what powers Transport for London has to amend (a) rail fares and (b) rail provision on trains (i) in and (ii) entering Greater London. [54629]

Ms Buck: Transport for London has no direct powers at present to amend rail fares on trains in London or entering Greater London other than through the joint setting of Travelcard fares with the Train Operating Companies and on some defined joint rail and London Underground routes within London.

Transport for London has the ability to buy additional services or propose savings on National Rail franchised passenger services operating entirely within London, subject to affordability and network constraints. The Railways Act 2005 also allows TfL to enter into direct agreements with Train Operating Companies on minor increments to services that do not require a change to the franchise agreement.

Transport for London has no powers to amend rail provision on services entering Greater London.
 
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Mrs. James: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received on the First Great Western Trains' December 2006 timetable consultation; and whether the Department intends to make a submission to the consultation. [56050]

Derek Twigg: The Department for Transport has received 290 submissions regarding First Great Western's 2006 timetable consultations. Officials will meet First Great Western management when consultation closes, to assess responses.

Mrs. James: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the proposed termination at Cardiff of the 1515 First Great Western Trains service from London Paddington to Swansea. [56074]

Derek Twigg: Under the proposed December 2006 timetable for the Greater Western franchise, the 15.15 train from Paddington will terminate at Cardiff. The following 15.45 train will provide a Swansea arrival 26 minutes later than the present 15.15. The number of weekday trains from Paddington to Swansea will remain at 21, and the number of weekday trains from Swansea to Paddington will increase from 20 to 21.

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when his Department first became aware of a potential bid for London and Continental Railways. [55024]

Derek Twigg: The Department received a first indication of a possible approach on 19 January 2006. The Secretary of State reported this to Parliament on 14 February 2006 when it became clear that this interest was being actively pursued.

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many cycles have been taken on trains in each year since 1997. [54965]

Derek Twigg: This information is not collected centrally.

Mrs. James: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans there are to withdraw Pacer Unit rolling stock on Arriva Trains Wales services from Swansea. [56082]

Derek Twigg: The ATW franchise agreement has no specific requirement to replace rolling stock.

Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what the levels of overcrowding in peak hours were on train lines on each line and franchise in the West Midlands in each year since 1996–97; [46949]

(2) what measures (a) the Government, (b) Network Rail and (c) the Rail Regulator uses to assess train overcrowding in (i) the West Midlands area and (ii) lines not covered by the passengers in excess of capacity measure. [46951]

Derek Twigg: Crowding is measured on those services in the West Midlands which are specified by the West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive (CENTRO) and operated by Central Trains. Central Trains count the number of passengers on each train serving Birmingham during the morning and evening peak on two occasions a year. Count data are available from 1999 onwards and the figures have been placed in the Libraries of the House.
 
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Franchises which are not covered by the Passengers in Excess of Capacity or Passenger Transport Executive capacity regimes are under a contractual obligation to plan their timetable in such a way as to manage passenger demand and prevent overcrowding being concentrated on one route.

Network Rail is responsible for developing route utilisation strategies, which seek to balance capacity, passenger and freight demand, operational performance and cost. These strategies will then inform the development and delivery of timetables to address future passenger growth.

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