Asked by
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to
facilitate improved high-speed rail services between (1) London
Euston and Manchester, and (2) on the West Coast Mainline north
of Crewe.
The Minister of State, Department for Transport ( of Richmond Hill) (Lab)
This Government are currently reviewing the position that they
have inherited on rail infrastructure and will consider how we
address capacity needs while maintaining financial discipline. We
will set out our plans in due course. We need a long-term
approach to infrastructure and investment, taking account of
local transport priorities, which is what we will provide.
(Lab)
I thank my noble friend for his reply. Of course we need a
long-term plan for investment, but does he agree that there is a
huge problem of congestion and capacity on the west coast main
line, which is a key artery of our transport system? These
problems have been made worse by the former Prime Minister's
impulsive and ill-thought-through cancellation of the second
stage of HS2; the National Audit Office says that this will
reduce capacity on the west coast main line by a further 17%. We
need an investment solution to this. Will my noble friend also
confirm that the Government have not ruled out use of the
existing HS2 route to provide that extra capacity?
of Richmond Hill (Lab)
Following the cancellation of HS2 phase 2, the Government are
looking at all options to improve rail journeys to the north-west
and Scotland, including managing the long-term issues that my
noble friend describes, with capacity that HS2 phase 2 would have
alleviated. In the meantime, Network Rail is progressing a
programme to renew and modernise the west coast main line between
Crewe and Scotland, and work on that will continue through the
next three five-year control periods.
(PC)
My Lords, before the last election, the previous Government
announced that, in lieu of a Barnett consequential to Wales
arising out of HS2, they would move forward with plans to
electrify the line from Crewe to Holyhead. Do the Labour
Government intend to honour that pledge and, if not, will they
ensure that Wales does indeed get a full Barnett consequential
related to the spending on the HS2 project?
of Richmond Hill (Lab)
As with a number of other projects suggested by the previous
Government, the electrification from Crewe to Holyhead had never
been funded and has not been developed. In relation to the
Barnett formula, I had a very good meeting with the Welsh
Government's Cabinet Secretary for the Economy, Transport and
North Wales. He put his point of view on that subject and I
responded to him.
(Non-Afl)
My Lords, the noble Lord, , is absolutely right that we
need a long-term plan for the west coast main line north of
Manchester. But the service that Avanti is providing right now is
also a complete disgrace and needs to be dealt with. Trains
between the West Midlands and London are often late, frequently
cancelled, and dangerously overcrowded. When will the Government
get a grip of Avanti's services? While we are on the subject of
rail services in the West Midlands, can the Minister explain why
CrossCountry was allowed to do engineering works and replace the
trains with a bus service between Birmingham and Leicester last
Saturday—the one day in the year thousands of people from
Birmingham were travelling to Leicester to watch Aston Villa beat
Leicester?
of Richmond Hill (Lab)
The first performance meeting that my right honourable friend the
Secretary of State for Transport had was with the Avanti
management on the Network Rail route. Its performance is far from
satisfactory. The contractual position prevents the rapid action
that one might want to take, but we are pressing it
extraordinarily hard to deliver the service that passengers and
taxpayers need. On the football match last Saturday, I do not
have the details to hand but I will write to the noble Lord.
(Lab)
My Lords, notwithstanding the issues in train services to the
north of England, can my noble friend the Minister say whether
the department could also look at the constant difficulties
experienced on the south Wales to London main line, an important
link between our two countries that fails on a daily basis?
of Richmond Hill (Lab)
The performance of the Great Western main line has been the
subject of a great deal of discussion and a change of management
in Network Rail, and the infrastructure is improving.
Nevertheless, I will take away my noble friend's remarks on it,
and we will press both Network Rail and the train operator to do
better.
(Con)
My Lords, I welcome the Minister to his place. I did not feel
that the very good question asked by the noble Lord, , was adequately answered,
particularly in relation to Euston. Can the Minister be candid
with the House and say how much public money his department is
bidding for in the current spending round to extend the operation
of HS2 from Old Oak Common to Euston—or does he hold the view
that this can be achieved entirely by private sector
investment?
of Richmond Hill (Lab)
The noble Lord's question in relation to Euston is germane in
relation to the usefulness of HS2. The Government have been left
with a position where many things have been promised and there is
not enough funding for them all. However, we are reviewing the
position on Euston urgently and intend to respond when we can to
the proposition to extend HS2 from Old Oak Common to Euston.
(Lab)
My Lords—
(LD)
My Lords, it is this side. I have been waiting for a train for 20
minutes.
I congratulate the noble Lord, , for asking the first friendly
Question on railways in the almost 10 years that I have been in
this House. He hits the nail on the head. What matters is
capacity; this was never about speed. Many times, you get on a
train at Euston and the train manager says, “If we don't leave in
two minutes, we'll be behind the slow train to Milton Keynes or
Watford”, and, similarly, from Crewe. Will the Minister liaise
with the elected mayors of Liverpool, Manchester and Birmingham
and keep trying to work with them? They are the people who
understand more about the need to move people around for
business, pleasure, leisure and life opportunities.
Also, in the spirit of glasnost, can the Minister keep this House
involved in future progress? As the noble Lord, , just said, the money must
come from somewhere. It has been found for the pay offer for the
rail drivers. Perhaps it can now be found for the public who
travel on those trains.
of Richmond Hill (Lab)
Of course the combined authority mayors have a very important
part to play in determining the rail services in their areas.
This Government are absolutely committed to discussing with them,
on the capacity of the railway, the balance between long-distance
travel and travel needed within those areas to create growth,
jobs and housing. On future progress, the Government must review
the railway as a whole. It is a network. As we do so, no doubt we
will be asked questions about it and this House will be fully
involved.
of Craighead (CB)
My Lords, I return to the Minister's response to the noble Lord,
. Does the Minister accept that
it was a mistake to discontinue the HS2 phase 2b line to Crewe?
If that line had been extended to Crewe it would have benefited
services to Wales, directly linked into the west coast main line,
and—if I may put it this way—added much needed credibility to the
whole project. Are the Government willing to look at that matter
again?
of Richmond Hill (Lab)
The Government are reviewing the position that we have inherited
on HS2. The connectivity points that the noble and learned Lord
raises are good ones. The proposals for the development of the
railway network will indeed have to take those things into
account and will look at solving some of the issues that he
mentions.
(Con)
My Lords—
(Lab)
My Lords, this side!
(Lab)
My apologies: I believe that this is a question for the
Conservative Benches.
(Con)
I thank the noble Baroness very much. I declare an interest as a
former member of the Select Committee on HS2, which spent nearly
two years hearing copious evidence from many different experts.
The one underlying recurring theme was the crucial importance of
getting the link through to central London and Euston. Without
that, we will not be able to solve a capacity issue.
of Richmond Hill (Lab)
The link to Euston must be considered alongside many other
commitments for railway investment, not all of which can be
funded in the present financial situation. However, we hope to
come back quickly on Euston because it is easy to recognise that
it is part of the integral HS2 project.
