Sixth Report - Trains fit for the future?
Select Committee
Transport Committee
HC 876
23 March 2021
Government response
Third Special Report: Trains Fit for the Future? Government Response to the Committee’s Sixth Report of Session 2019–21 · published 27 May 2021
Recommendations & Conclusions
5 results
1
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Para 26
Transport is the largest source of carbon emissions in the UK, accounting for 27% of...
Conclusion
Transport is the largest source of carbon emissions in the UK, accounting for 27% of total emissions. If the UK is to meet its 2050 net zero carbon emissions target, a concerted effort will be needed to dramatically decarbonise the …
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Government Response Summary
The government welcomes the report, agrees on the need for decarbonisation, highlights past electrification efforts, and states that its forthcoming Transport Decarbonisation Plan and the new Great British Railways will provide a long-term strategy and clearer accountability for achieving net zero in rail.
Department for Transport
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2
Conclusion
Acknowledged
We welcome the Department for Transport’s reaffirmation that it is committed to withdrawing all diesel-only...
Conclusion
We welcome the Department for Transport’s reaffirmation that it is committed to withdrawing all diesel-only trains by 2040—including freight trains. This will be a hugely important step in ensuring a greener, decarbonised rail network, which will be necessary for the …
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Government Response Summary
The government partially agrees, stating they are developing a Traction Decarbonisation Plan (TDP) and Rail Environment Policy (REP) to set their long-term strategic direction for decarbonising the railway, with a comprehensive environment plan to be published by 2022. They do not explicitly reaffirm the commitment to withdraw all diesel-only trains by 2040.
Department for Transport
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7
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Para 54
Decarbonisation of the rail network over the next generation will require moving from diesel traction...
Conclusion
Decarbonisation of the rail network over the next generation will require moving from diesel traction to cleaner technologies, such as electrification, battery, and hydrogen. We agree with the Department and industry experts that electrification is the only immediately viable decarbonisation …
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Government Response Summary
The government partially agrees, stating they are developing a Traction Decarbonisation Plan (TDP) and Rail Environment Policy (REP) to set a long-term strategic direction, with a comprehensive environment plan to be published by 2022, and notes the TDNS vision for technological mix.
Department for Transport
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8
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Para 55
Rail electrification projects within Great Britain have historically been costly.
Conclusion
Rail electrification projects within Great Britain have historically been costly. The Department and Network Rail have said that lessons have been learned from previous projects. The importance of this cannot be overstated. The mistakes that unnecessarily increased the cost of …
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Government Response Summary
The government partially agrees, stating that the Department is developing a Transport Decarbonisation Plan and Rail Environment Policy to set a strategic direction for decarbonisation, and that Network Rail's TDNS and further analysis will ensure affordability and value for money, thereby aiming to avoid past costly mistakes.
Department for Transport
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16
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Para 78
We believe that battery and hydrogen technology should play an important part in decarbonising the...
Conclusion
We believe that battery and hydrogen technology should play an important part in decarbonising the rail network and should feature prominently in the Department’s long-term decarbonisation rail strategy. New technology should be embraced although we recognise that at present both …
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Government Response Summary
The government partially agrees, stating they are developing a Traction Decarbonisation Plan (TDP) and Rail Environment Policy (REP) to set a long-term strategic direction for decarbonising the railway, with a comprehensive environment plan to be published by 2022. They note the need for further analysis on technology mix.
Department for Transport
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