Railways in Partliament

Your railway ideas!

NEWPORT East MP Jessica Morden asked when the Government plans to publish the full application form for the Restoring Your Railway Ideas fund.

Transport minister Chris Heaton-Harris replied:"The on line form for registering an interest in the second round of the ideas fund was sent to MPs on May 15.

''The full application form will be published on gov.uk during week commencing May 25. We will let members know when the form is available, as we have done at all stages of the Restoring Your Railway Ideas. The deadline for applications is June 19.

"We received 60 bids for the first round, which have recently been assessed, and the next steps from this round will be communicated to members and promoters shortly:'

Naming HS2 machines

CHESHAM and Amersham MP Dame Cheryl Gillan asked what estimate the Department for Transport has made of the cost of holding a public vote on naming the HS2 tunnelling machines.

Transport minister Andrew

Stephenson said: "The public vote has been implemented and managed entirely in-house by HS2 Ltd staff utilising existing resources so there is no disaggregated cost.

"There is no additional cost associated with applying names to the tunnel boring machines (TBM) as the cost for applying branding is included in the manufacturing costs for the machines.

"Once chosen by the public, names oftheTBMs will be added to the side of each machine using transfers, not attached nameplates, similar to the standard branding seen on TBMs around the world:'

Northern limited options

BRIGG and Goole MP Andrew Percy asked what plans the DfT has to replace the service option fund on the former Northern Rail franchise.

Transport minister Chris Heaton-Harris replied:"Under the new agreement with Northern Trains Ltd, there is no longer aformal service options fund to help capture the aspirations for additional services. However, the operator is required to continue this development work through its on-going discussions with stakeholders.

"Aligned with this is the work to understand passenger demand as a result of Covid-19.

"Although there is agreat deal of uncertainty surrounding this, we always welcome suggestions to help better connect our towns and cities:'

Supporting rail industry

CLWYD South MP Simon Baynes asked what steps the department is taking to support the rail industry during the Covid-19 outbreak.

Transport minister Chris Heaton

Harris said:"The department has offered operators of all of its franchises ashort-term emergency measures agreement, a six-month pause of the financial mechanisms within their franchise agreements.

"This offer has been accepted in all cases, and the agreements have been in place since April 1, effective from March 1.

"They have stabilised the industry, kept services running and provided assurance for those working on the railway.

''We continue to work to support operators as needed and bring stability and certainty to the industry during this turbulent time:'

North Cotswold plans

WEST Worcestershire Harriett Baldwin asked what information the department has received from Network Rail on the feasibility of the Oxford to Hereford North Cotswold Line taskforce strategic outline business case.

"Network Rail is continuing to undertake a review of the business case at the department's request;' replied Transport minister Chris Heaton-Harris.

''This is expected to be completed in early summer. However, the constraints of the current Covid-19 situation may have an impact on the timescales for both the review and the department's subsequent consideration of the task force's request for funding to develop the case and its entry into the rail network enhancement pipeline:'