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1354854

registered interest
date	13/09/2021
answering body	Department for Transport
answering dept id	27
answering dept short name	Transport
answering dept sort name	Transport
hansard heading	Trains: Diesel
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment the Government has made of the impact of idling diesel powered passenger trains on railway station passengers; and if he will take steps to help increase the use of renewable diesel for trains.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	48229
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/09/2021 answer text <p>The Government is determined to reduce the impact of poor air quality on railway users, workers, and neighbours. We know that air pollution in stations is an area of particular concern. To better understand it the Department has funded air quality monitoring studies at three large enclosed stations; Birmingham New Street, London King’s Cross and Edinburgh Waverly. This research has highlighted that enclosed stations can be high risk areas for poor air quality, due to idling diesel engines and poor air flow and ventilation.</p><p>Following these findings, and given the importance of the issue, the Department is now funding a new £4.5 million air quality monitoring network.</p><p> </p><p>This will be rolled out over the next three years, with air quality monitors installed in around 100 stations across England and Wales. Once established, the network will help the rail industry identify priority locations where air quality improvement measures are required. Responsible organisations will be required to produce air quality improvement plans with the aim that levels of air pollutants meet the targets we will set for PM2.5, PM10 and NO2.</p><p> </p><p>The government has committed to a net zero railway by 2050, and set out an ambition to remove all diesel-only trains from the rail network by 2040, which will reduce carbon emissions and improve air quality. To achieve immediate carbon savings and air quality improvements, some rail operators are exploring the use of biofuels and sustainable alternative fuels. We recognise the potential value of sustainably sourced biofuels as a transitional technology, where their use is technically feasible and makes commercial and environmental sense. As part of Decarbonising transport: a better, greener Britain, the government has set out plans to work with stakeholders to develop a longer-term strategy on how the uptake and use of low-carbon fuels, including biodiesel and renewable hydrogen, could support decarbonisation across transport modes to 2050. The strategy is to be published in 2022.</p> answering member constituency Daventry answering member printed Chris Heaton-Harris grouped question UIN 48226 48228 question first answered 20/09/2021 14:38:58 answering member 3977 label Biography information for Chris Heaton-Harris
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1354855

registered interest
date	13/09/2021
answering body	Department for Transport
answering dept id	27
answering dept short name	Transport
answering dept sort name	Transport
hansard heading	Trains: Diesel
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has had discussions with representatives of railway and station staff on the effect of idling diesel powered passenger trains on (a) health of those staff and (b) air quality; and if he will make it his policy to support the use of renewable diesel for trains.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	48230
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/09/2021 answer text <p>In our Transport Decarbonisation Plan, we have set out our ambition to deliver a net zero rail network by 2050. Rail decarbonisation will significantly improve air quality on the railway in the longer-term, however the Government is determined to reduce the impact of poor air quality on railway users, workers, and neighbours now. We know that air pollution in stations is an area of particular concern. To better understand it the Department has funded air quality monitoring studies at three large enclosed stations; Birmingham New Street, London King’s Cross and Edinburgh Waverley. This research has highlighted that enclosed stations can be high risk areas for poor air quality, due to idling diesel engines and poor air flow and ventilation.</p><p>Following these findings, and given the importance of the issue, the Department is now funding a new £4.5 million air quality monitoring network. This will be rolled out over the next three years, with air quality monitors installed in around 100 stations across England and Wales. Once established, the network will help the rail industry identify priority locations where air quality improvement measures are required. Responsible organisations will be required to produce air quality improvement plans with the aim that levels of air pollutants meet the targets we will set for PM2.5, PM10 and NO2.</p><p>In addition, we are funding research using personal air quality monitoring equipment to assess railway staff exposure at a range of rail locations. This will help improve our understanding of occupational exposure to air pollutants.</p><p>We welcome the work that the Rail Delivery Group is doing in collaboration with industry to develop and rollout an idling limit in some places known to have air quality issues. The Government believes that, as an interim measure, idling should be reduced across the railway to quickly minimise rail’s impact on air pollution.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Daventry answering member printed Chris Heaton-Harris question first answered 21/09/2021 14:59:35 answering member 3977 label Biography information for Chris Heaton-Harris
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1249662

registered interest
date	09/11/2020
answering body	Department for Transport
answering dept id	27
answering dept short name	Transport
answering dept sort name	Transport
hansard heading	Trains: Diesel
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of accelerating the phasing out of diesel trains to help meet the UK's climate targets.
tabling member constituency	Hornsey and Wood Green
tabling member printed	Catherine West
uin	113178
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/11/2020 answer text <p>The Government is committed to rail decarbonisation to meet our target of reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2050. Network Rail’s work to develop a Traction Decarbonisation Network Strategy will inform our decisions about the scale and pace of rail decarbonisation, the deployment of different decarbonisation technologies on each part of the network to replace diesel trains, and the delivery of our ambition to remove all diesel-only trains from the railway by 2040.</p> answering member constituency Daventry answering member printed Chris Heaton-Harris question first answered 12/11/2020 14:50:51 answering member 3977 label Biography information for Chris Heaton-Harris
tabling member	4523 label Biography information for Catherine West

1229007

registered interest
date	28/08/2020
answering body	Department for Transport
answering dept id	27
answering dept short name	Transport
answering dept sort name	Transport
hansard heading	Trains: Diesel
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when diesel trains will cease to operate on the rail network.
tabling member constituency	Cambridge
tabling member printed	Daniel Zeichner
uin	81979
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/09/2020 answer text <p>The Government is developing an ambitious Transport Decarbonisation Plan to achieve net zero emissions across all modes of transport by 2050. We will use electrification and alternative technologies such as battery and hydrogen trains to remove diesel trains from the network and decarbonise the railway.</p><p> </p><p>Ongoing work led by Network Rail will inform decisions about the pace of rail decarbonisation to achieve net zero, the deployment of different decarbonisation technologies on each part of the network, and delivery of the ambition to remove all diesel-only trains from the railway by 2040.</p> answering member constituency Daventry answering member printed Chris Heaton-Harris question first answered 08/09/2020 16:54:19 answering member 3977 label Biography information for Chris Heaton-Harris
tabling member	4382 label Biography information for Daniel Zeichner

1222464

registered interest
date	09/07/2020
answering body	Department for Transport
answering dept id	27
answering dept short name	Transport
answering dept sort name	Transport
hansard heading	Trains: Diesel
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate his Department has made of the proportion of the UK rail fleet that is composed of rolling diesel stock; and what the expected proportion will be in (a) 2025, (b) 2030 and (c) 2035.
tabling member constituency	Bristol East
tabling member printed	Kerry McCarthy
uin	71686
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/07/2020 answer text <p>Out of a national fleet of over 14,000 vehicles, there were approximately 3,400 passenger vehicles in service at the beginning of July 2020 that formed part of a diesel powered train. Decisions about the necessary pace of removal of diesel trains from the network to decarbonise the railway will be informed by ongoing work led by Network Rail.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Daventry answering member printed Chris Heaton-Harris question first answered 14/07/2020 15:01:58 answering member 3977 label Biography information for Chris Heaton-Harris
tabling member	1491 label Biography information for Kerry McCarthy

1222465

registered interest
date	09/07/2020
answering body	Department for Transport
answering dept id	27
answering dept short name	Transport
answering dept sort name	Transport
hansard heading	Trains: Diesel
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will bring forward the 2040 target for the phasing out of diesel rail stock.
tabling member constituency	Bristol East
tabling member printed	Kerry McCarthy
uin	71687
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/07/2020 answer text <p>The Government is developing an ambitious Transport Decarbonisation Plan to achieve net zero emissions across all modes of transport. We will use electrification and alternative technologies such as battery and hydrogen trains to remove diesel trains from the network and decarbonise the railway.</p><p> </p><p>Ongoing work led by Network Rail will inform decisions about the pace of rail decarbonisation to achieve net zero, the deployment of different decarbonisation technologies on each part of the network, and delivery of the ambition to remove all diesel-only trains from the railway by 2040.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Daventry answering member printed Chris Heaton-Harris question first answered 14/07/2020 14:51:59 answering member 3977 label Biography information for Chris Heaton-Harris
tabling member	1491 label Biography information for Kerry McCarthy

1218209

registered interest
date	26/06/2020
answering body	Department for Transport
answering dept id	27
answering dept short name	Transport
answering dept sort name	Transport
hansard heading	Trains: Diesel
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent steps has he taken to ensure that all diesel-only trains will no longer be in service by 2040.
tabling member constituency	Slough
tabling member printed	Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi
uin	65192
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/07/2020 answer text <p>Rail decarbonisation will be an important element in the UK’s first Transport Decarbonisation Plan. The Department is working with Network Rail and the rail industry to determine which parts of the network are best suited to use of hydrogen and battery trains and electrification. This rail Traction Decarbonisation Network Strategy will be completed this year.</p> answering member constituency Daventry answering member printed Chris Heaton-Harris question first answered 01/07/2020 16:30:25 answering member 3977 label Biography information for Chris Heaton-Harris
tabling member	4638 label Biography information for Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi

1170259

registered interest
date	13/01/2020
answering body	Department for Transport
answering dept id	27
answering dept short name	Transport
answering dept sort name	Transport
hansard heading	Trains: Diesel
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps the Government is taking to curtail the use of diesel trains on the rail network.
tabling member constituency	Hornsey and Wood Green
tabling member printed	Catherine West
uin	2581
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/01/2020 answer text <p>The Government is ensuring the railway plays its part in delivering our ambitions to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and to reduce air pollution created by transport.</p><p> </p><p>We continue to expand the electrified rail network where it delivers passenger and environmental benefits and value for money. This allows removal of diesel trains. For example from this month electric trains can run between London and Cardiff.</p><p> </p><p>Network Rail is developing a Traction Decarbonisation Network Strategy to inform Government decisions on the scale and pace of further rail decarbonisation, and the reduced use of diesel trains that this will require.</p> answering member constituency Daventry answering member printed Chris Heaton-Harris question first answered 16/01/2020 14:33:05 answering member 3977 label Biography information for Chris Heaton-Harris
tabling member	4523 label Biography information for Catherine West

1167482

registered interest
date	30/10/2019
answering body	Department for Transport
answering dept id	27
answering dept short name	Transport
answering dept sort name	Transport
hansard heading	Trains: Diesel
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the Government's policy is on the use of diesel trains on the UK rail network beyond 2040.
tabling member constituency	Middlesbrough
tabling member printed	Andy McDonald
uin	7729
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/11/2019 answer text <p>The Government has set an ambitious, legally binding target to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions from the UK by 2050. Rail must make a significant contribution towards achieving this target as part of our Transport Decarbonisation Plan.</p><p> </p><p>We are working with Network Rail to develop a costed decarbonisation network strategy which will inform decisions on the scale and pace of rail decarbonisation. This work will consider the full range of available technologies and identify which is most appropriate for each part of the rail network.</p><p> </p><p>Decisions on rolling stock will be taken as part of this wider strategy, alongside decisions on infrastructure. We will reduce use of diesel trains as we electrify a greater proportion of the network and as new technologies such as battery and hydrogen become more mature.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Daventry answering member printed Chris Heaton-Harris question first answered 04/11/2019 15:18:06 answering member 3977 label Biography information for Chris Heaton-Harris
tabling member	4269 label Biography information for Andy McDonald

982744

registered interest
date	08/10/2018
answering body	Department for Transport
answering dept id	27
answering dept short name	Transport
answering dept sort name	Transport
hansard heading	Trains: Diesel
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will direct Angel Trains to (a) defer the transfer to West Midlands Trains of the seven diesel trains subleased to Arriva Rail London and (b) return to Arriva Rail London the one diesel train already transferred until such time as it can be replaced by an electric train.
tabling member constituency	Walthamstow
tabling member printed	Stella Creasy
uin	176283
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/10/2018 answer text <p>It is of utmost importance that passengers in both the West Midlands and London receive the improvements they have been promised. We fully expect the diesel trains to enter service in the West Midlands in May 2019 as planned, giving Arriva Rail London ample time to take receipt of the electric trains.</p><p> </p><p>The diesel trains bound for the West Midlands will replace 30 year old stock, and will provide much-needed additional capacity for passengers on Birmingham Snow Hill and Nuneaton to Leamington Spa services. This requires the existing train to stay with West Midlands Trains for driver training, and to continue the process of installing toilets which meet modern accessibility requirements. Transport for London are content for this unit to remain with West Midlands Trains.</p> answering member constituency Orpington answering member printed Joseph Johnson question first answered 11/10/2018 13:44:44 answering member 4039 label Biography information for Lord Johnson of Marylebone
tabling member	4088 label Biography information for Stella Creasy