Show Search Form

Search Results

registered interest	true false
date	exactly: or between: and
answering body
answering dept id
answering dept short name
answering dept sort name
hansard heading
house id
legislature	pref label
question text
tabling member constituency
tabling member printed
uin
answer	is ministerial correction true false date of answer exactly: or between: and answer text answering member constituency answering member printed question first answered answering member label
tabling member	label

Search

1658826

registered interest
date	06/09/2023
answering body	Department for Transport
answering dept id	27
answering dept short name	Transport
answering dept sort name	Transport
hansard heading	Railway Signals
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many times train signalling equipment has failed in each of the last 12 months.
tabling member constituency	Slough
tabling member printed	Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi
uin	198229
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/09/2023 answer text <p>According to data recorded by Network Rail, there were 12,687 train signalling equipment failures between 8 September 2022 and 7 September 2023, which is equivalent to 1,057 failures per month on average. The figure for 2022-23 is comparable to recent years and lower than the average number of signal failures over the past decade.</p><p> </p><p>Network Rail are undertaking a number of actions to reduce instances of signalling equipment failures on the network. This includes replacing old and obsolete equipment as part of their renewals work, undertaking reliability analysis to identify assets that are failing prematurely to enable targeted remedial action, applying predictive technology to identify the risk of failures, monitoring trends to identify underperforming assets so these can be replaced, and reviewing staff training to ensure staff are in the best position to manage and mitigate signalling failures. Moving to digital signalling, such as on the East Coast Digital Programme, will also lead to increased infrastructure reliability.</p> answering member constituency Bexhill and Battle answering member printed Huw Merriman question first answered 14/09/2023 16:15:29 answering member 4442 label Biography information for Huw Merriman
tabling member	4638 label Biography information for Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi

1488840

registered interest
date	13/07/2022
answering body	Department for Transport
answering dept id	27
answering dept short name	Transport
answering dept sort name	Transport
hansard heading	Railway Signals
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of implementing digital (a) signalling and (b) train control technology on the capacity of the rail network.
tabling member constituency	Slough
tabling member printed	Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi
uin	36075
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/07/2022 answer text <p>My department recognises the value of introducing digital signalling and train control technology to the GB rail network due to the associated benefits gained for users. That is why the Government recently announced over £1bn of new funding to deliver the East Coast Digital Programme, which will implement digital signalling on the East Coast Mainline between Kings Cross and Stoke Tunnel, just North of Peterborough.</p><p> </p><p>The analysis underpinning this investment decision shows that implementing digital signalling on this route will increase rail system capability on the line due to the greater flexibility in train control offered by the technology. This can either be used to increase performance or capacity. The priority for the East Coast Digital Programme, and therefore the central economic analysis for this investment decision, has assumed that the benefits offered by this increased system capability are captured as performance improvements.</p><p> </p><p>However, future rail policy may evolve in different ways, government and industry might choose to prioritise capacity of the railway over performance. As such the benefits from additional system capability might manifest in different ways, such as increasing the frequency of existing services or lengthening trains. These benefits would be assessed at the time of this future policy decision.</p><p> </p><p>The strategy for increasing the spread of digital signalling across the rest of the GB network is outlined in the Long Term Deployment Plan, which sees the East Coast Digital Programme as a galvanising force for industry to pivot to digital signalling technology.</p><p> </p><p>Through the East Coast Digital Programme Network Rail is currently undertaking an assessment exercise to determine the benefits of introducing traffic management technology alongside digital signalling on the East Coast Mainline. We expect that work to be concluded in early 2023 which provide a full assessment of the impact of implementing traffic management.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Aldridge-Brownhills answering member printed Wendy Morton question first answered 18/07/2022 14:20:57 answering member 4358 label Biography information for Wendy Morton
tabling member	4638 label Biography information for Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi

1472246

registered interest
date	21/06/2022
answering body	Department for Transport
answering dept id	27
answering dept short name	Transport
answering dept sort name	Transport
hansard heading	Railway Signals
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he plans to require Great British Railways to invest in digital signalling across the rail network as part of his next High Level Output Specification and Statement of Funds Available for Control Period 7.
tabling member constituency	Wimbledon
tabling member printed	Stephen Hammond
uin	22385
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/06/2022 answer text <p>The Office of Rail and Road’s Review Initiation Notice issued on 9 June binds the Department for Transport to provide its High-Level Output Specification and Statement of Funds Available by 28 October of this year, within which will be set out the Secretary of State’s requirements. Work to produce these documents is ongoing.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Aldridge-Brownhills answering member printed Wendy Morton question first answered 23/06/2022 15:37:08 answering member 4358 label Biography information for Wendy Morton
tabling member	1585 label Biography information for Stephen Hammond

1216941

registered interest
date	23/06/2020
answering body	Department for Transport
answering dept id	27
answering dept short name	Transport
answering dept sort name	Transport
hansard heading	Railway Signals
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress is being made in introducing electronic signalling across the railway network.
tabling member constituency	Slough
tabling member printed	Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi
uin	63464
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/06/2020 answer text <p>The Government is committed to rolling out digital technologies to modernise signalling on the railway. Through the East Coast Digital Programme, the Government is investing an initial £350 million to install new state-of-the-art signalling technology on trains and further develop the plan to digitise signalling on the East Coast Mainline. Network Rail’s Long Term Deployment Plan sets out how the network could transition to digital signalling. As part of this plan, work is already underway to prepare for the digitisation of sections of the network in East Anglia, and parts of the West Coast Mainline and Midland Mainline.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Daventry answering member printed Chris Heaton-Harris question first answered 29/06/2020 13:26:24 answering member 3977 label Biography information for Chris Heaton-Harris
tabling member	4638 label Biography information for Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi

1168412

registered interest
date	19/12/2019
answering body	Department for Transport
answering dept id	27
answering dept short name	Transport
answering dept sort name	Transport
hansard heading	Railway Signals
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the (a) resilience of Network Rail’s signalling infrastructure and (b) the potential for failure of that infrastructure to affect passengers.
tabling member constituency	Dulwich and West Norwood
tabling member printed	Helen Hayes
uin	171
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/01/2020 answer text <p>As part of Network Rail’s latest settlement (Control Period 6) Government has committed to continue record levels of investment in rail infrastructure, providing around £48bn of funding across the five-year period spanning from 2019 to 2024. This funding settlement is focussed on maintaining and improving rail infrastructure assets including signals, and includes major programmes of signalling upgrades which will increase resilience. This will help support a more reliable railway for passengers by reducing the instances of failures which affect passengers. This includes Network rail’s recognition within the CP6 delivery plan that digital signalling renewals are a priority. Network Rail have published their Long-Term Deployment Plan for digital signalling as part of the Digital Railway transformation</p> answering member constituency Daventry answering member printed Chris Heaton-Harris question first answered 07/01/2020 16:15:18 answering member 3977 label Biography information for Chris Heaton-Harris
tabling member	4510 label Biography information for Helen Hayes

1144872

registered interest
date	04/09/2019
answering body	Department for Transport
answering dept id	27
answering dept short name	Transport
answering dept sort name	Transport
hansard heading	Railway Signals
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to encourage Network Rail to generate the electricity it consumes from standby electricity generators for its signalling instalments from renewable energy sources.
tabling member printed	Lord Bradshaw
uin	HL17706
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2019 answer text <p><strong> </strong></p><p>Network Rail is conducting a study to assess the potential for large scale renewable energy generation across its estate. The long-term aim of the project is to see Network Rail generating renewable electricity for both train traction and other uses.</p><p> </p><p>The Department for Transport recently funded a demonstrator project that has connected 100 solar panels to the Wessex route’s traction system, with energy from the panels set to power signalling and lights.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Vere of Norbiton question first answered 09/09/2019 15:24:04 answering member 4580 label Biography information for Baroness Vere of Norbiton
tabling member	2483 label Biography information for Lord Bradshaw

994219

registered interest
date	24/10/2018
answering body	Department for Transport
answering dept id	27
answering dept short name	Transport
answering dept sort name	Transport
hansard heading	Railway Signals
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 19 October 2018 to Question 178321, what assessment he has made of the role of his Department in overseeing the introduction of the Automatic Power Change Over (APCO) system integration (a) across the InterCity Express programme and (b) at the Signalling Scheme Plan at Steventon Bridge.
tabling member constituency	Middlesbrough
tabling member printed	Andy McDonald
uin	183463
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/11/2018 answer text <p>DfT is working together with the Rail Industry to enable facility for Automatic Power Change Over (APCO) on Intercity Express Trains on the East Coast and Great Western routes. This includes appropriate power change over arrangements at Steventon Bridge. I understand that Network Rail have launched a formal appeal to the Planning Inspectorate against the local authority decision to refuse planning permission for replacing Steventon Bridge.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Orpington answering member printed Joseph Johnson question first answered 01/11/2018 16:15:31 answering member 4039 label Biography information for Lord Johnson of Marylebone
tabling member	4269 label Biography information for Andy McDonald

872655

registered interest
date	27/03/2018
answering body	Department for Transport
answering dept id	27
answering dept short name	Transport
answering dept sort name	Transport
hansard heading	Railway Signals
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the effect of digital signalling systems on levels of train capacity on the rail network.
tabling member constituency	Wokingham
tabling member printed	John Redwood
uin	134469
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/03/2018 answer text <p>Our railway carries twice as many passengers as it did just two decades ago and demand is still set to rise in the years ahead. Digital Railway is part of the industry’s plan to modernise the UK railways through targeted use of digital technologies to deliver improvements in performance and capacity. For example, digital technologies are being deployed – along with other upgrades – as part of the Thameslink Programme, to enable a metro-style service of 24 Thameslink trains per hour through the core section in central London. However, there can be no ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach to the deployment of the Digital Railway and we are continuing to explore with Network Rail where there is the strongest need for digital interventions across the rail network and where digital schemes can deliver most passenger benefits and offer best value for money.</p> answering member constituency Orpington answering member printed Joseph Johnson question first answered 29/03/2018 13:50:05 answering member 4039 label Biography information for Lord Johnson of Marylebone
tabling member	14 label Biography information for Sir John Redwood

872656

registered interest
date	27/03/2018
answering body	Department for Transport
answering dept id	27
answering dept short name	Transport
answering dept sort name	Transport
hansard heading	Railway Signals
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the locations are for his Department's piloting of digital signalling systems on the rail network.
tabling member constituency	Wokingham
tabling member printed	John Redwood
uin	134470
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/03/2018 answer text <p>The £450m for Digital Railway announced in the 2016 Autumn Statement will be used to deliver benefits to passengers and also to prepare the UK rail industry to deliver more digital railway schemes in the future. Nearly £85million is being spent on fitting and testing the on-board ETCS equipment for the first time in several classes of trains, a vital enabler for the Digital Railway Programme, whilst development funding has been allocated for potential digital schemes between Manchester and York and also on the South East Route and Moorgate Branch to help deliver the kind of improvements to train journeys that passengers expect and deserve. These schemes build on the progress already being made by other Digital Railway schemes at Romford and Cardiff, and as part of Thameslink and Crossrail. Passengers on the Thameslink route have started to see some of this technology with Automatic Train Operation (ATO) being introduced on services through the Thameslink ‘core’ between St Pancras International and Blackfriars stations.</p> answering member constituency Orpington answering member printed Joseph Johnson question first answered 29/03/2018 13:52:41 answering member 4039 label Biography information for Lord Johnson of Marylebone
tabling member	14 label Biography information for Sir John Redwood

663039

registered interest
date	20/12/2016
answering body	Department for Transport
answering dept id	27
answering dept short name	Transport
answering dept sort name	Transport
hansard heading	Railway Signals
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the (a) resilience of power supply arrangements to railway signalling centres and (b) provision of back-up power supplies in the event of National Grid failures.
tabling member constituency	Portsmouth South
tabling member printed	Mrs Flick Drummond
uin	58431
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/01/2017 answer text <p>Network Rail, as the infrastructure provider, is best placed to assess power supply resilience.</p><p> </p><p>Network Rail’s signalling power supplies are treated by the National grid as a priority. As such the standard provision for signalling centres on most parts of the network including railway operating centres are classified as part of an essential services distribution board. These are backed up by a fixed diesel generator and an uninterruptible power supply.</p> answering member constituency Blackpool North and Cleveleys answering member printed Paul Maynard question first answered 10/01/2017 15:49:38 answering member 3926 label Biography information for Paul Maynard
tabling member	4459 label Biography information for Mrs Flick Drummond