Trains fit for the future?
Transport Committee
Closed
Inquiry
The inquiry will examine how technologies such as electric, hydrogen and battery can be deployed to reduce the rail industry’s reliance on diesel-only trains. Read written evidence submitted in the previous Parliament .
18
Recommendations
8
Conclusions
1
Report
2
Oral sessions
2
Events
Activity timeline 4 events
27 May
2021
2021
23 Mar
2021
2021
Report published
9 Dec
2020
2020
Oral evidence
11 Nov
2020
2020
Oral evidence
Oral evidence sessions 2 sessions
9 Dec 2020
View on parliament.uk
Andrew Haines · Network Rail
Andrew Kluth · Rail Industry Decarbonisation Taskforce
Chris Heaton-Harris MP · Northern Ireland Office
Helen McAllister · Network Rail
Malcolm Brown · Rail Industry Decarbonisation Taskforce
Philip Luxford · Department for Transport
Rachel Maclean MP · Department for Transport
11 Nov 2020
View on parliament.uk
Chris Smith · Thirteen Group
David Clarke · Railway Industry Association
Leo Murray · Possible
Mark Gaynor · Rail Delivery Group
Mary Grant · Porterbrook
Paul Smart
Reports 1 report · click to expand
| Title | HC No. | Published | Items | Response |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sixth Report - Trains fit for the future? | HC 876 | 23 Mar 2021 | 26 | Responded |
Recommendations & Conclusions
13 results
3
Conclusion
Accepted in Part
Sixth Report - Trains fit for the …
While we recognise the immediate challenges brought about by the coronavirus pandemic, we are concerned...
While we recognise the immediate challenges brought about by the coronavirus pandemic, we are concerned about the frequent delays to the publication of the Department’s Transport Decarbonisation Plan and the Rail Reform White Paper based on the Williams Review. These …
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Government Response
The government "partially agrees" with the implied need to address delays, stating it is developing a Transport Decarbonisation Plan (TDP) and Rail Environment Policy (REP), and will publish a comprehensive environment plan for the rail network by 2022.
Department for Transport
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4
Recommendation
Accepted in Part
Sixth Report - Trains fit for the …
We recommend that the Department for Transport publishes a long-term strategy for decarbonising the rail...
We recommend that the Department for Transport publishes a long-term strategy for decarbonising the rail network as a matter of priority. This should include a vision for what proportion of the future network will use electrification, battery and hydrogen. That …
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Government Response
The government partially agrees, stating they are developing a Traction Decarbonisation Plan (TDP) and Rail Environment Policy (REP) document to set a long-term strategic direction, with a comprehensive environment plan to be published by 2022. They note the Network Rail-led Traction Decarbonisation Network Strategy (TDNS) provides a vision for the technological mix.
Department for Transport
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5
Conclusion
Accepted in Part
Sixth Report - Trains fit for the …
Dedicated investment over the long-term will be essential in order to meet the considerable challenge...
Dedicated investment over the long-term will be essential in order to meet the considerable challenge of decarbonising the rail network by 2050. There will be understandable pressures on public spending in the coming years as the country recovers from the …
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Government Response
The government partially agrees, indicating they are developing a Traction Decarbonisation Plan (TDP) and Rail Environment Policy (REP) to set their long-term strategic direction for decarbonising the railway and will publish a comprehensive environment plan by 2022.
Department for Transport
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9
Recommendation
Accepted in Part
Sixth Report - Trains fit for the …
We understand that rail electrification project costs are monitored by the Department and Network Rail...
We understand that rail electrification project costs are monitored by the Department and Network Rail as part of the Rail Network Enhancements Pipeline process. Any overspend would be flagged by that process. The financial failures of previous electrification programmes caused …
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Government Response
The government "partially agrees", stating it has already introduced robust financial mechanisms like the RNEP process following past cost challenges. It notes a review of financial governance is underway within Network Rail and commits to continuing to enhance processes where necessary to ensure lessons are learned.
Department for Transport
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10
Recommendation
Accepted in Part
Sixth Report - Trains fit for the …
We recommend that the Department implements an enhanced financial mechanism beyond that contained in the...
We recommend that the Department implements an enhanced financial mechanism beyond that contained in the Rail Network Enhancement Pipeline process. That enhanced financial mechanism must be designed to ensure that strict transparency and adherence to cost discipline are maintained in …
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Government Response
The government partially agrees, stating that robust financial mechanisms including RNEP were already introduced, and while agreeing in principle to financial transparency, a review of financial governance is underway within Network Rail, with commitments to continue enhancing processes where necessary.
Department for Transport
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11
Recommendation
Accepted in Part
Sixth Report - Trains fit for the …
As recommended by our predecessor Committee in 2018, the best way to deliver efficient and...
As recommended by our predecessor Committee in 2018, the best way to deliver efficient and cost-effective electrification is to establish a rolling programme of electrification over the next 30 years. A rolling programme of electrification should also support the delivery …
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Government Response
The government partially agrees, committing to endeavour to deliver a 30-year pipeline of electrification schemes but will ensure proper development through the RNEP process before committing to individual projects, balancing certainty for the industry with affordability and value for money.
Department for Transport
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12
Recommendation
Accepted in Part
Sixth Report - Trains fit for the …
We recommend that the Department commits to a 30-year rolling programme of electrification projects and...
We recommend that the Department commits to a 30-year rolling programme of electrification projects and sets this out in its long-term rail decarbonisation strategy.
Government Response
The government "partially agrees", committing to "endeavour to deliver" a visible pipeline of electrification schemes over the next 30 years. However, it qualifies this by emphasizing that schemes must be properly developed through the RNEP process to ensure affordability and value for money before commitment.
Department for Transport
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13
Recommendation
Accepted in Part
Sixth Report - Trains fit for the …
The scale of change required to meet the 2040 and 2050 rail decarbonisation targets is...
The scale of change required to meet the 2040 and 2050 rail decarbonisation targets is considerable. We believe it would be beneficial to start the electrification programme as soon as possible, rather than wait for the start of the next …
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Government Response
The government partially agrees, committing to endeavour to deliver a 30-year pipeline of electrification schemes but will not start immediately, prioritising proper development through the RNEP process to ensure affordability and value for money.
Department for Transport
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15
Recommendation
Accepted in Part
Sixth Report - Trains fit for the …
In responding to this Report, if not earlier, the Department should publish the list of...
In responding to this Report, if not earlier, the Department should publish the list of “no regret” electrification schemes identified by Network Rail and confirm which schemes they intend to deliver as a priority, the costs of doing so, and …
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Government Response
The government partially agrees, providing an interim "no regret" electrification analysis as an annex, but clarifies it is superseded and full details on prioritised schemes, costs, and timeframes will be published through the updated RNEP process.
Department for Transport
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19
Recommendation
Accepted in Part
Sixth Report - Trains fit for the …
Although the rail industry requires a long-term strategy for decarbonising the rail network, it is...
Although the rail industry requires a long-term strategy for decarbonising the rail network, it is important that the strategy is sufficiently flexible to incorporate alternative technologies, such as hydrogen and battery, and other new technologies that might be developed. When …
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Government Response
The government partially agrees, stating they are developing a Traction Decarbonisation Plan (TDP) and Rail Environment Policy (REP) document to set a long-term strategy, with a comprehensive environment plan to be published by 2022. They acknowledge the need for further analysis as technologies evolve to ensure appropriate decarbonisation solutions.
Department for Transport
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23
Recommendation
Accepted in Part
Sixth Report - Trains fit for the …
We welcome Government funding to support the establishment of the Global Centre of Rail Excellence,...
We welcome Government funding to support the establishment of the Global Centre of Rail Excellence, which is a positive step in decarbonising the rail network. However, we heard evidence that the amount of research and development funding provided by Government …
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Government Response
The government partially agrees, highlighting existing significant R&D support and plans to simplify funding and improve collaboration under the Williams-Shapps White Paper. Great British Railways will become the primary public funder of R&D, aligning funding with long-term investment strategies and private sector innovators.
Department for Transport
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24
Recommendation
Accepted in Part
Sixth Report - Trains fit for the …
We recommend that the Department’s long-term rail decarbonisation strategy sets out how research and development...
We recommend that the Department’s long-term rail decarbonisation strategy sets out how research and development will be supported and properly funded in order to deliver the scale of change required to decarbonise the rail network.(Paragraph 103) Making trains fully accessible
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Government Response
The government partially agrees, stating significant R&D support is ongoing and will be simplified through the Williams-Shapps White Paper. Great British Railways will become the primary public funder of R&D, with closer alignment to long-term investment strategies and stronger links with private sector innovators.
Department for Transport
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26
Recommendation
Accepted in Part
Sixth Report - Trains fit for the …
The Department must set out how it will ensure that train operators meet the legal...
The Department must set out how it will ensure that train operators meet the legal requirement to make their trains fully accessible and what sanctions will be used if some train operators once again fail to meet the deadline. We …
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Government Response
The Department is committed to ensuring accessibility, stating 97% of trains are compliant and the remaining 3% will be removed from service or used only with compliant vehicles. Operators are prioritizing compliant trains and implementing operational mitigations, but the response does not explicitly detail sanctions for non-compliance.
Department for Transport
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