Extracts from Transport
Questions
Mr (North East Hampshire) (Con): What
assessment he has made of the timescale required for the
electrification of the Reading to Basingstoke line. [904102]
The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Joseph
Johnson): The Secretary of State’s acceptance of the
Hendy review in 2016 recognised the necessity of changes to the
scope of Great Western electrification. Following completion of a
feasibility assessment of the line between Reading and
Basingstoke, it has been identified that electrification of that
section is not required to deliver improvements to passengers.
Mr Jayawardena: Given my hon. Friend’s
commendable plan to scrap all diesel-only trains from our tracks
by 2040, would he consider extending Crossrail from Reading to
Basingstoke, as an alternative to Great Western, to improve
capacity into London from north Hampshire?
: The Department
always welcomes suggestions from my hon. Friend. There are no
current plans to extend the Crossrail route, and no assessment
has yet been made of the amount or availability of any such
scheme.
(Sefton Central)
(Lab): Ministers say that they want to reduce roadside
emissions. The road leading from the port of Liverpool has some
of the biggest air quality problems in the country. Will the
Secretary of State listen to calls for investment in rail freight
as an answer to the problem?
The Secretary of State for Transport (Chris
Grayling): This is precisely why I am so pleased to have
started feasibility work on the reopening of the Skipton to Colne
railway line, a route that could provide an important link across
the Pennines. It is no doubt a matter of real frustration that it
takes eight to nine hours for a freight train to travel from the
port of Liverpool to the power station at Drax, and it is clear
to me that we need additional Transpennine capacity. This is one
route that could deliver it. I look forward to seeing the
conclusions from that study at the end of the year, which I think
is the likely timetable.
Extract from Business
Questions
(Kingston upon Hull North)
(Lab): There is a broad consensus that faster
connectivity between east and west is vital for the northern
powerhouse. However, in May we will have a revised Transpennine
timetable which will result in slower journeys from Hull. Hull
and Humber chamber of commerce has tried to meet with
Transpennine to discuss this, but has not been able to get very
far. I am sure the Leader of the House agrees that it is
important that that meeting goes ahead, but may we have a debate
in the House of Commons about the fact that not just north-south
connectivity but east-west connectivity is important?
The Leader of the House of Commons (Andrea
Leadsom): I certainly agree with the hon. Lady that
east-west connectivity is vital. I hope she was able to attend
Transport questions, because this would be a question very
directly answerable by Transport Ministers. We are delivering
unprecedented investment in better transport across the
north—over £13 billion, which is the largest amount in Government
history—but I encourage the hon. Lady to take up the specific
point she raises directly with Transport Ministers.
