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58521

registered interest
date	05/06/2014
answering body	Department for Transport
answering dept id	27
answering dept short name	Transport
answering dept sort name	Transport
hansard heading	High Speed 2 Line
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Answer of 31 March 2014, Official Report, columns 408-9W, on High Speed 2 railway line, whether his Dedpartment has subsequently compared double-decking with revised estimates of the costs and effects of High Speed 2.
tabling member constituency	Eddisbury
tabling member printed	Mr Stephen O'Brien
uin	199261
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/06/2014 answer text <p>As per the answer of 31 March 2014, since 2009 we have considered a wide range of alternative options to a high speed railway including the use of alternative modes, a conventional speed line and upgrades to the existing rail network, including double decking.</p><p> </p><p>Specifically, the March 2010 High Speed 2 Strategic Alternatives Study considered the potential for using double deck trains on WCML as one means of enhancing capacity on conventional rail routes between London and the West Midlands/North West. Details of this study, including evidence of expense, disruption and capacity, can be found at:</p><p><a href="http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/http:/www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/rail/pi/highspeedrail/alternativestudy/pdf/railintervention.pdf" target="_blank">http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/http:/www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/rail/pi/highspeedrail/alternativestudy/pdf/railintervention.pdf</a>.</p><p>This work found that while double deck carriages could increase the number of passengers per train there is a practical limit to the expansion of capacity in this manner and it offers limited potential to lead to journey time savings.</p><p> </p><p>This option is also likely to lead to significant disruption and expense. Before such trains could be used on the West Coast Mainline, the route (including diversionary routes) would need to be gauge cleared to allow sufficient space for the trains to operate. This would involve raising all overhead wires, raising bridges, modifying platforms on the route, modifying station canopies, moving or raising all signal gantries and other signage on the route, and lowering track in the tunnels. Work would need to be carried out to modify existing depots or to provide new ones. Additional works would also be required to enable line speeds to be maintained on the route.</p><p> </p><p>For these reasons it was concluded that there was a strong case for not considering this option further. No subsequent work has therefore been done to compare it to the case for HS2.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Scarborough and Whitby answering member printed Mr Robert Goodwill grouped question UIN 199296 199298 question first answered 12/06/2014 14:41:37 answering member 1562 label Biography information for Sir Robert Goodwill
tabling member	427 label Biography information for Mr Stephen O'Brien

58522

registered interest
date	05/06/2014
answering body	Department for Transport
answering dept id	27
answering dept short name	Transport
answering dept sort name	Transport
hansard heading	West Coast Main Line
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Answer of 28 April 2014, Official Report, columns 517-8W, on railways: passengers, what the evidential basis is for the stated forecast of increases in passenger numbers on the West Coast Main Line over the next 10 years.
tabling member constituency	Eddisbury
tabling member printed	Mr Stephen O'Brien
uin	199294
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/06/2014 answer text <p>Chapter 4 of Network Rail's West Coast Route Utilisation Strategy describes the evidential basis and modelling approach of the anticipated changes in demand to 2024-25 which are contained in the same document. This is now available at:</p><p><a href="http://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/imagelibrary/downloadMedia.ashx?MediaDetailsID=4675" target="_blank">http://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/imagelibrary/downloadMedia.ashx?MediaDetailsID=4675</a></p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Wimbledon answering member printed Stephen Hammond question first answered 12/06/2014 14:46:40 answering member 1585 label Biography information for Stephen Hammond
tabling member	427 label Biography information for Mr Stephen O'Brien

58523

registered interest
date	05/06/2014
answering body	Department for Transport
answering dept id	27
answering dept short name	Transport
answering dept sort name	Transport
hansard heading	Railways: Overcrowding
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, where the greatest overcrowding on the rail network is; and how High Speed 2 will reduce that overcrowding.
tabling member constituency	Eddisbury
tabling member printed	Mr Stephen O'Brien
uin	199331
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/06/2014 answer text <p>DfT publishes statistics showing the levels of peak crowding in a number of major cities each year, based on the proportion of passengers in excess of capacity (PiXC) and the proportion of passengers standing at trains' busiest points. The latest publication from 2012 is published at the following link: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/rail-passenger-numbers-and-crowding-on-weekdays-in-major-cities-in-england-and-wales-2012" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/rail-passenger-numbers-and-crowding-on-weekdays-in-major-cities-in-england-and-wales-2012</a>.</p><p> </p><p>The PiXC statistics show that the highest levels of crowding are generally seen on peak London commuter services. In autumn 2012 the highest PiXC levels across the morning and afternoon peaks were on First Great Western services at Paddington, Chiltern services at Marylebone and London Midland services at Euston.</p><p> </p><p>The Strategic Case for HS2 (<a href="http://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hs2-strategic-case" target="_blank">www.gov.uk/government/publications/hs2-strategic-case</a>) sets out how HS2 has the capacity to triple the number of seats leaving Euston on the West Coast Main Line Corridor. By releasing capacity on the classic network, HS2 will ease crowding on crowded commuter routes into Euston, particularly London Midland services and potentially Chiltern services as well.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Scarborough and Whitby answering member printed Mr Robert Goodwill question first answered 12/06/2014 14:52:25 answering member 1562 label Biography information for Sir Robert Goodwill
tabling member	427 label Biography information for Mr Stephen O'Brien

58524

registered interest
date	05/06/2014
answering body	Department for Transport
answering dept id	27
answering dept short name	Transport
answering dept sort name	Transport
hansard heading	High Speed 2 Line
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how he expects High Speed 2 to reduce overcrowding at London Waterloo.
tabling member constituency	Eddisbury
tabling member printed	Mr Stephen O'Brien
uin	199332
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/06/2014 answer text <p>High Speed 2 is not intended to reduce overcrowding at London Waterloo, as it has been designed as a link between London Euston, Birmingham, Leeds and Manchester.</p><p> </p><p>The 2012 Rail Investment Strategy (HLOS) has asked the industry to provide additional peak capacity for 9,700 extra passengers into Waterloo by 2019 and has provided funding for Network Rail to expand Waterloo and other stations. Network Rail and South West Trains have set out plans to lengthen peak trains and South West Trains is now in discussions with the Department for Transport.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Scarborough and Whitby answering member printed Mr Robert Goodwill question first answered 12/06/2014 15:06:51 answering member 1562 label Biography information for Sir Robert Goodwill
tabling member	427 label Biography information for Mr Stephen O'Brien

58525

registered interest
date	05/06/2014
answering body	Department for Transport
answering dept id	27
answering dept short name	Transport
answering dept sort name	Transport
hansard heading	High Speed 2 Line
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how High Speed 2 improve reliability and reduce overcrowding on regional links between towns and cities in the North West.
tabling member constituency	Eddisbury
tabling member printed	Mr Stephen O'Brien
uin	199339
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/06/2014 answer text <p>By moving long distance passengers off the existing network, HS2 will release capacity for more regional services, reducing overcrowding and improving reliability, as well as improving connectivity. Nationally, the Economic Case for HS2 found that HS2 will deliver reliability benefits worth £5.5bn, and reduced crowding benefits of £7.5bn, which includes benefits to regional services in the North West.</p><p> </p><p>In response to recommendations made by Sir David Higgins, HS2 Ltd and Network Rail have been commissioned to consider what further improvements can be made to centre to city centre connectivity, east-west links and local connectivity in the Midlands and the North, with a final report on options in 2015.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Scarborough and Whitby answering member printed Mr Robert Goodwill question first answered 12/06/2014 15:28:25 answering member 1562 label Biography information for Sir Robert Goodwill
tabling member	427 label Biography information for Mr Stephen O'Brien

58526

registered interest
date	05/06/2014
answering body	Department for Transport
answering dept id	27
answering dept short name	Transport
answering dept sort name	Transport
hansard heading	High Speed 2 Line
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the number of people who will move home as a result of the construction of High Speed 2 because of (a) demolition for construction of the line and (b) blight.
tabling member constituency	Eddisbury
tabling member printed	Mr Stephen O'Brien
uin	199340
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/06/2014 answer text <p>There are 464 dwellings within the area currently subject to surface-level safeguarding for the London to West Midlands section of HS2, of which 339 are to be demolished. Given recent Census data showing an average 2.3 occupants per property in the UK, we expect around 1,000 people will move from those homes.</p><p> </p><p>We have not estimated numbers of people who may move for reasons of generalised property blight, but there are approximately 220 dwellings within the Voluntary Purchase Area for the London to West Midlands Route announced on 9 April. Our aim is where possible to avoid serious impacts on local residents and enable people to remain in their homes. We expect to consult shortly on further measures that may make that choice more attractive for homeowners.</p><p> </p><p>Pending future decisions on routes and designs, we have made no similar estimates for other proposed sections of HS2.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Wimbledon answering member printed Stephen Hammond question first answered 12/06/2014 15:30:41 answering member 1585 label Biography information for Stephen Hammond
tabling member	427 label Biography information for Mr Stephen O'Brien

58527

registered interest
date	05/06/2014
answering body	Department for Transport
answering dept id	27
answering dept short name	Transport
answering dept sort name	Transport
hansard heading	High Speed 2 Line
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Answer of 31 March 2014, Official Report, column 408W, on High Speed 2 Railway Line, what the evidential basis is for the expense and disruption caused by double-decker carriages being greater than that caused by High Speed 2.
tabling member constituency	Eddisbury
tabling member printed	Mr Stephen O'Brien
uin	199296
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/06/2014 answer text <p>As per the answer of 31 March 2014, since 2009 we have considered a wide range of alternative options to a high speed railway including the use of alternative modes, a conventional speed line and upgrades to the existing rail network, including double decking.</p><p> </p><p>Specifically, the March 2010 High Speed 2 Strategic Alternatives Study considered the potential for using double deck trains on WCML as one means of enhancing capacity on conventional rail routes between London and the West Midlands/North West. Details of this study, including evidence of expense, disruption and capacity, can be found at:</p><p><a href="http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/http:/www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/rail/pi/highspeedrail/alternativestudy/pdf/railintervention.pdf" target="_blank">http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/http:/www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/rail/pi/highspeedrail/alternativestudy/pdf/railintervention.pdf</a>.</p><p>This work found that while double deck carriages could increase the number of passengers per train there is a practical limit to the expansion of capacity in this manner and it offers limited potential to lead to journey time savings.</p><p> </p><p>This option is also likely to lead to significant disruption and expense. Before such trains could be used on the West Coast Mainline, the route (including diversionary routes) would need to be gauge cleared to allow sufficient space for the trains to operate. This would involve raising all overhead wires, raising bridges, modifying platforms on the route, modifying station canopies, moving or raising all signal gantries and other signage on the route, and lowering track in the tunnels. Work would need to be carried out to modify existing depots or to provide new ones. Additional works would also be required to enable line speeds to be maintained on the route.</p><p> </p><p>For these reasons it was concluded that there was a strong case for not considering this option further. No subsequent work has therefore been done to compare it to the case for HS2.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Scarborough and Whitby answering member printed Mr Robert Goodwill grouped question UIN 199261 199298 question first answered 12/06/2014 14:41:37 answering member 1562 label Biography information for Sir Robert Goodwill
tabling member	427 label Biography information for Mr Stephen O'Brien

58528

registered interest
date	05/06/2014
answering body	Department for Transport
answering dept id	27
answering dept short name	Transport
answering dept sort name	Transport
hansard heading	High Speed 2 Line
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will publish an updated cost benefit analysis for High Speed 2 in light of the decision not to link High Speed 2 with High Speed 1 and Eurostar services.
tabling member constituency	Eddisbury
tabling member printed	Mr Stephen O'Brien
uin	199334
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/06/2014 answer text <p>We will continue to revise and update the economic case for HS2 as new project milestones are reached, such as decisions on the preferred route for Phase 2, to ensure it is based on the best available evidence and latest understanding of the project, including taking account of the decision to remove the existing proposals for the HS1-HS2 link from the scheme.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Scarborough and Whitby answering member printed Mr Robert Goodwill question first answered 12/06/2014 15:22:27 answering member 1562 label Biography information for Sir Robert Goodwill
tabling member	427 label Biography information for Mr Stephen O'Brien

58529

registered interest
date	05/06/2014
answering body	Department for Transport
answering dept id	27
answering dept short name	Transport
answering dept sort name	Transport
hansard heading	High Speed 2 Line
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Answer of 31 March 2014, Official Report, column 408W, on High Speed 2 Railway Line, what the evidential basis for double-decker carriages not releasing sufficient capacity for commuter services is.
tabling member constituency	Eddisbury
tabling member printed	Mr Stephen O'Brien
uin	199298
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/06/2014 answer text <p>As per the answer of 31 March 2014, since 2009 we have considered a wide range of alternative options to a high speed railway including the use of alternative modes, a conventional speed line and upgrades to the existing rail network, including double decking.</p><p> </p><p>Specifically, the March 2010 High Speed 2 Strategic Alternatives Study considered the potential for using double deck trains on WCML as one means of enhancing capacity on conventional rail routes between London and the West Midlands/North West. Details of this study, including evidence of expense, disruption and capacity, can be found at:</p><p><a href="http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/http:/www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/rail/pi/highspeedrail/alternativestudy/pdf/railintervention.pdf" target="_blank">http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/http:/www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/rail/pi/highspeedrail/alternativestudy/pdf/railintervention.pdf</a>.</p><p>This work found that while double deck carriages could increase the number of passengers per train there is a practical limit to the expansion of capacity in this manner and it offers limited potential to lead to journey time savings.</p><p> </p><p>This option is also likely to lead to significant disruption and expense. Before such trains could be used on the West Coast Mainline, the route (including diversionary routes) would need to be gauge cleared to allow sufficient space for the trains to operate. This would involve raising all overhead wires, raising bridges, modifying platforms on the route, modifying station canopies, moving or raising all signal gantries and other signage on the route, and lowering track in the tunnels. Work would need to be carried out to modify existing depots or to provide new ones. Additional works would also be required to enable line speeds to be maintained on the route.</p><p> </p><p>For these reasons it was concluded that there was a strong case for not considering this option further. No subsequent work has therefore been done to compare it to the case for HS2.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Scarborough and Whitby answering member printed Mr Robert Goodwill grouped question UIN 199261 199296 question first answered 12/06/2014 14:41:37 answering member 1562 label Biography information for Sir Robert Goodwill
tabling member	427 label Biography information for Mr Stephen O'Brien

58530

registered interest
date	05/06/2014
answering body	Department for Transport
answering dept id	27
answering dept short name	Transport
answering dept sort name	Transport
hansard heading	High Speed 2 Line
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Answer of 31 March 2014, Official Report, column 408W, on High Speed 2 Railway Line, what the evidential basis is for the practical limit to the expansion of capacity on the West Coast Mainline being lower than predicted growth for that line.
tabling member constituency	Eddisbury
tabling member printed	Mr Stephen O'Brien
uin	199297
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/06/2014 answer text <p>Evidence set out in the Strategic Case for HS2 (<a href="http://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hs2-strategic-case" target="_blank">www.gov.uk/government/publications/hs2-strategic-case</a>) demonstrates that parts of the West Coast Main Line are effectively full in terms of the number of trains; many of which are already full to overflowing at certain times of day and demand is expected to grow.</p><p> </p><p>Rail demand has grown by 54% over the last decade, which is the equivalent of annual growth rate of 4.4%. Chapter 3 of the Strategic case sets out that even with more modest growth of 2.5%, all of the additional peak seats provided by enhancing the line will be used up during the 2020s.</p><p> </p><p>The Department has considered a wide range of alternatives including upgrades to the existing West Coast Main Line. The most recent report, commissioned from Atkins can be found here (<a href="http://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/253456/hs2-strategic-alternatives.pdf" target="_blank">www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/253456/hs2-strategic-alternatives.pdf</a>). This provides evidence that expanding capacity on the West Coast Main line would not be a robust long term solution to the capacity, connectivity and reliability challenges on the line. Not only would it not provide sufficient additional capacity to meet long term demand, but it would not offer a robust solution to the problem of poor service performance and would significantly disrupt services for many years during construction work.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Scarborough and Whitby answering member printed Mr Robert Goodwill question first answered 12/06/2014 14:49:38 answering member 1562 label Biography information for Sir Robert Goodwill
tabling member	427 label Biography information for Mr Stephen O'Brien