argyrotsipi/train-dataset huggingface dataset:
Strategic Road Network — House of Commons, 2018-05-24
Topic: Transportation
Alexander Jesse Norman (Conservative, Centre-right): Projects up and down the country are being delivered through the Government’s £15 billion investment in our strategic roads, our motorways and main A roads. I salute my ministerial colleague, my hon. Friend the Member for Wealden (Ms Ghani), who had a fanfare a few minutes ago, and I think the reason for that was that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State officially opened the £400 million A1 upgrade from Leeming to Barton last week, so there is now a continuous motorway link between Newcastle and London for the first time in this country’s history.
Strategic Road Network — House of Commons, 2018-05-24
Topic: Transportation
Mark Julian Francis Pawsey (Conservative, Centre-right): The A5 through Warwickshire and Leicestershire is an important strategic route throughout the midlands and is a valuable relief road in the event of hold-ups on the M6, which can happen from time to time. It is however mostly single carriageway, and with significant amounts of development proposed along the route, will the Minister ensure that detailed work can start urgently to improve both safety and capacity?
Strategic Road Network — House of Commons, 2018-05-24
Topic: Transportation
Alexander Jesse Norman (Conservative, Centre-right): As my hon. Friend will know, we discussed this in a Westminster Hall debate in February and I have seen him and colleagues recently. It is a very important matter; we are aware of the strategic importance of the A5. We already have work in prospect between Dodwells and the Longshoot junction and we will continue to look closely at the matter.
Strategic Road Network — House of Commons, 2018-05-24
Topic: Transportation
Alexander Jesse Norman (Conservative, Centre-right): I take on board the hon. Lady’s point, but the point I would make in response is that, over the next three years, Highways England will be investing and, by the end of that period, at a rate roughly three times more than the rate the Government inherited in 2010. Therefore, unprecedented levels of investment are going in. The hon. Lady is welcome to write to me or meet me if she wants to discuss this issue further.
Strategic Road Network — House of Commons, 2018-05-24
Topic: Transportation
John Robert Lamont (Conservative, Centre-right): I welcome the improvements to the A1 to Newcastle, but there is great demand for improvements to the part of the A1 north of Newcastle to the border and my constituency. Can the Minister update the House on improvements to that part of the road to Berwick-upon-Tweed and the border with Scotland?
Strategic Road Network — House of Commons, 2018-05-24
Topic: Transportation
Alexander Jesse Norman (Conservative, Centre-right): The hon. Gentleman and I have met and we have met Highways England to discuss this, and I think it is overstating the matter to say there is no interest at all, but we continue to look at the issue.
Strategic Road Network — House of Commons, 2018-05-24
Topic: Transportation
Philip Thomas Hollobone (Conservative, Centre-right): Drivers who hog the middle lane of motorways has always been a problem, but as traffic volumes increase the impact will be even greater. This problem makes the roads dangerous for other drivers and slows down traffic. What can be done about this?
GWR Franchise — House of Commons, 2018-05-24
Topic: Transportation
Jo Johnson (Conservative, Centre-right): The current Great Western franchise ends on 31 March 2020. In November 2017, the Department started its consultation on the future of services. Department for Transport officials are currently evaluating options for the specification of the franchise from April 2020, and throughout the 2020s, with the aim of issuing the specification later this year.
GWR Franchise — House of Commons, 2018-05-24
Topic: Transportation
Jo Johnson (Conservative, Centre-right): I fear that the hon. Lady is under a misapprehension as to the nature of the TfL contractual arrangements on that line, but she will be pleased to know that we are transferring services to TfL, including those from Paddington to Hayes and Harlington, and Heathrow Connect.
GWR Franchise — House of Commons, 2018-05-24
Topic: Transportation
Geoffrey Robert Clifton-Brown (Conservative, Centre-right): When my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announces the successor to the GWR franchise, will he ensure that the Cotswold line and the Kemble to Swindon line have an increased number of services and increased punctuality, so that the large amount of money that the taxpayer has put into Network Rail to redouble those services is properly utilised?
Disabled Rail Passengers — House of Commons, 2018-05-24
Topic: Transportation
Nusrat Munir Ul-Ghani (Conservative, Centre-right): The Government will publish an inclusive transport strategy later this year. I assure my hon. Friends that I and the Department believe that disabled people should have the same access to transport as anyone else and be able to travel easily, confidently and without extra cost. All train fleets operating passenger services will meet modern accessibility standards by 1 January 2020. Further funding for the Access for All stations programme will be made available for 2019 to 2024.
Disabled Rail Passengers — House of Commons, 2018-05-24
Topic: Transportation
Robert John Blackman (Conservative, Centre-right): I thank my hon. Friend for that answer. Clearly, there is a desperate need for a lift at both Stanmore and Canons Park stations. That is the responsibility of the Labour Mayor of London, who has failed to deliver. Also, Harrow and Wealdstone station is in my constituency, and the local authority’s civic centre is part of the "Heart of Harrow" regeneration scheme. The station does not have disabled access or step-free access, even though it has an overground, underground and Network Rail interchange. How can we get suitable access to that station?
Disabled Rail Passengers — House of Commons, 2018-05-24
Topic: Transportation
Nusrat Munir Ul-Ghani (Conservative, Centre-right): My hon. Friend raises a very important point. Transport for London manages transport services in the capital and is responsible for implementing the Mayor of London’s transport strategy, so Stanmore and Canons Park underground stations are his responsibility. I hope he is following today’s proceedings and will deliver for disabled and able-bodied passengers in my hon. Friend’s constituency Of course, Harrow and Wealdstone station falls under the Access for All stations programme, and bidding for funding will open shortly. I urge my hon. Friend to get in touch with his local authority, which can work with the transport operating companies and put together the best possible bid to secure funding.
Disabled Rail Passengers — House of Commons, 2018-05-24
Topic: Transportation
Trudy Lynne Harrison (Conservative, Centre-right): Now that the Minister has confirmed that the Government will continue the Access for All scheme, which has improved accessibility across many of this country’s railway stations, can she advise us on how can we get the Cumbrian coastal railways included in future funding bids?
Disabled Rail Passengers — House of Commons, 2018-05-24
Topic: Transportation
Nusrat Munir Ul-Ghani (Conservative, Centre-right): My hon. Friend is a great champion for her constituency, so she will no doubt help the local authority and transport operating company to put together the best possible bid. The Access for All programme will provide step-free access to stations across the country, and I know how popular it is across the House. It will be open for bidding shortly. Stations will need to be nominated by the transport operating company, based on chosen criteria. Annual footfall and the local incidence of disability will be taken into account, as well as priorities such as industry and local factors such as proximity to hospitals and availability of third-party funding.
Disabled Rail Passengers — House of Commons, 2018-05-24
Topic: Transportation
Nusrat Munir Ul-Ghani (Conservative, Centre-right): Since 2006, about 200 stations have been made step-free and 75% of rail journeys are now step-free through stations. Funding has been made available and will continue to be made available. One of the biggest issues we have in getting people who are disabled to use public transport is confidence, so we need to let them know that we have accessible stations. Now I will respond to the point about GTR. There was one line in the document—
Disabled Rail Passengers — House of Commons, 2018-05-24
Topic: Transportation
Nusrat Munir Ul-Ghani (Conservative, Centre-right): Will the hon. Lady give me a minute to respond? It was not the best use of language, and I can update the House and say that my officials have spoken to GTR and raised concerns about that line and the language used in the leaflet. The leaflet is good overall, but the hon. Lady is right to point out that one particular line was not appropriate, and it will be revised.
Transport Police Merger: Scotland — House of Commons, 2018-05-24
Topic: Transportation
Questions: What recent discussions he has held with the Scottish Government on the proposed merger of the British Transport police Scottish division with Police Scotland.
Jo Johnson (Conservative, Centre-right): Officials have been working closely and effectively with the Scottish Government, the two police forces and the two police authorities, through a joint programme board established to oversee arrangements for delivering the transfer of the British Transport police’s functions in Scotland. We want to see a smooth transition to the new arrangements that ensures the safety and security of rail passengers and staff, and recognises and protects the UK’s interests.
Transport Police Merger: Scotland — House of Commons, 2018-05-24
Topic: Transportation
Questions: What recent discussions he has held with the Scottish Government on the proposed merger of the British Transport police Scottish division with Police Scotland.
Douglas Gordon Ross (Conservative, Centre-right): Earlier this month, BTP Federation chair Nigel Goodband said: "It is appalling that the Scottish Government constantly reminds us that one of its three aims in full integration is accountability to the people of Scotland. British Transport police officers and staff…are people of Scotland. They are proud Scots; they are proud to be in the British Transport Police and proud of living in Scotland." He continued: "They have said to me that they feel abandoned…by their Government. That is pretty disgusting. It is alarming that they feel that way." Does the Minister agree that that quote proves that the SNP Scottish Government are letting down hard-working and dedicated BTP officers and staff in Scotland and that their interests and the interests of the public they proudly protect would be better served by maintaining the way that the BTP operates in Scotland, rather than breaking up a force that serves Scotland and the United Kingdom well?
Transport Police Merger: Scotland — House of Commons, 2018-05-24
Topic: Law and Crime
Questions: What recent discussions he has held with the Scottish Government on the proposed merger of the British Transport police Scottish division with Police Scotland.
Jo Johnson (Conservative, Centre-right): I certainly understand my hon. Friend’s concerns. It is in both Governments’ mutual interest to make the new arrangements work. The Government are very focused on protecting UK interests generally, including those of passengers, officers and staff, and that is why we are working closely with the Scottish Government, the police forces and the police authorities.
Heathrow: Third Runway — House of Commons, 2018-05-24
Topic: Transportation
Christopher Stephen Grayling (Conservative, Centre-right): The Government have always been clear that any scheme for additional airport capacity should be financed by the private sector. The Airports Commission concluded that this was a viable way forward. As set out in the revised draft airports national policy statement, independent financial advisers have undertaken further work and agreed that expansion of Heathrow can be carried out without public finance.
Heathrow: Third Runway — House of Commons, 2018-05-24
Topic: Transportation
Adam Afriyie (Conservative, Centre-right): I thank the Secretary of State for the answer. The report by the Select Committee on Transport on the airports national policy statement said that the Lakeside Energy from Waste plant should be treated "with equivalent recognition as the Immigration Removal Centres and that the replacement of its facilities be accounted for in the DCO process." Will the Secretary of State confirm that his Department has assessed any infrastructure upgrade needed, such as that to roads and powerlines, to accommodate the relocation, and will those costs be met by the taxpayer?
Heathrow: Third Runway — House of Commons, 2018-05-24
Topic: Energy
Christopher Stephen Grayling (Conservative, Centre-right): First, I extend my thanks to the Select Committee, which has produced a thoughtful report. We will be responding to the report in detail very shortly; indeed, my officials are speaking to the Chair of the Committee to make sure she is fully up to speed with how we are handling all this Of course it is essential that appropriate provision is made for the energy from waste plant, and I think that provision should be funded by the airport as part of its work. I do not see why the taxpayer should bear the cost. I assure my hon. Friend the Member for Windsor (Adam Afriyie) that the plant and other facilities, and the communities around the airport, are very much on my Department’s mind as we take these matters forward.
Heathrow: Third Runway — House of Commons, 2018-05-24
Topic: Transportation
Christopher Stephen Grayling (Conservative, Centre-right): When I am ready to update the House, I will of course come back to do so in person. The Committee recommended that the Government progress with their work, and it made a number of very helpful and constructive suggestions about elements to be included within that work. I remain absolutely of the view that airport expansion is necessary for the economy of this country. The important thing is that we deliver it in the best possible way for local communities.
Heathrow: Third Runway — House of Commons, 2018-05-24
Topic: Transportation
Christopher Stephen Grayling (Conservative, Centre-right): Of course the arrival of HS2, with projected future growth in passenger numbers at our airports, will provide an alternative and will provide for a bit of competition between airports, which is no bad thing. The hon. Gentleman is right about that, but I do not think it is either one or the other.
Fishing Vessel Safety — House of Commons, 2018-05-24
Topic: Agriculture
Nusrat Munir Ul-Ghani (Conservative, Centre-right): Fishing safety remains a priority, and we are making improvements through education and legislation. New codes of practice set higher standards and will soon include stability requirements. Globally, the International Maritime Organisation’s maritime safety committee will this week discuss the safe operation of fishing vessels operating in the polar regions in the context of the Cape Town agreement.
Fishing Vessel Safety — House of Commons, 2018-05-24
Topic: Environment
Nusrat Munir Ul-Ghani (Conservative, Centre-right): I can give my hon. Friend the fullest assurance. Shipping is an international industry, and the UK strongly believes it should be regulated at an international level by the IMO. My officials and I recently played a leading role at the marine environment protection committee, where we secured the landmark agreement on phasing out greenhouse gas emissions. The UK takes great pride in being the host Government of the IMO, which is based just across the Thames, and we will continue to maintain our active role within the organisation’s work for the foreseeable future.
Train Timetable: Hitchin and Harpenden — House of Commons, 2018-05-24
Topic: Transportation
Questions: What steps his Department is taking to respond to rail passenger concerns on the introduction of the new timetable for peak-time services in Hitchin and Harpenden.
Jo Johnson (Conservative, Centre-right): The new Thameslink timetable started on Sunday. It brings more frequent and better connected journeys for passengers across London and the south-east. As part of this, rail passengers at Hitchin and Harpenden now have a more regular train service throughout the day than they did previously. The Government, along with the rail industry, are monitoring performance of the new timetable, as well as passenger feedback.
Train Timetable: Hitchin and Harpenden — House of Commons, 2018-05-24
Topic: Transportation
Questions: What steps his Department is taking to respond to rail passenger concerns on the introduction of the new timetable for peak-time services in Hitchin and Harpenden.
Abimbola Afolami (Conservative, Centre-right): On Monday, the first day of the timetable for commuters, 24% of Hitchin’s services were cancelled and more than 50% were delayed. Please will the Minister reassure me and my constituents that the Department will do everything it can to force Govia Thameslink to improve its performance drastically or be stripped of its franchise?
Train Timetable: Hitchin and Harpenden — House of Commons, 2018-05-24
Topic: Transportation
Questions: What steps his Department is taking to respond to rail passenger concerns on the introduction of the new timetable for peak-time services in Hitchin and Harpenden.
Jo Johnson (Conservative, Centre-right): We are grateful to my hon. Friend for bringing all the issues facing his constituency to our attention, and we look forward to working closely with him in the coming weeks. This week’s timetable changes are the first phase of a totally recast timetable, which will deliver, in time, the full benefits of the £7 billion Thameslink programme.
Train Timetable: Hitchin and Harpenden — House of Commons, 2018-05-24
Topic: Transportation
Questions: What steps his Department is taking to respond to rail passenger concerns on the introduction of the new timetable for peak-time services in Hitchin and Harpenden.
Jo Johnson (Conservative, Centre-right): The May 2018 timetable change will see about 90% of our services change. It is perhaps the single biggest timetable change in the country’s history and it will bring an extra 1,300 train services across our network. This is a very significant operational challenge. We recognise the disruption that is temporarily occurring in various places, and we are working carefully with train operators to reduce it as rapidly as possible.
Road Repairs — House of Commons, 2018-05-24
Topic: Transportation
Alexander Jesse Norman (Conservative, Centre-right): The Department for Transport is providing just over £6 billion to local highway authorities in England, outside London, for highways maintenance funding from 2015 up to 2021. Of course, my hon. Friend will be aware of the £296 million pothole action fund.
Road Repairs — House of Commons, 2018-05-24
Topic: Transportation
Robert Alexander Courts (Conservative, Centre-right): I welcome the prospect of upgrades to main roads in west Oxfordshire, financed through the housing infrastructure fund and the growth deal, but what are Ministers doing to ensure that small rural roads in areas such as West Oxfordshire, which often bear the brunt of winter damage, are not neglected and are also maintained to a high standard?
Road Repairs — House of Commons, 2018-05-24
Topic: Transportation
Alexander Jesse Norman (Conservative, Centre-right): My hon. Friend is absolutely right to raise that point, especially in the light of the recent very bad bouts of weather we have had, which have particularly affected local roads. Until then, it was true that the A and B roads were improving over time but that that leaves out the C and the U roads. A more strategic approach needs to be taken to that, and I am planning to do that in the months to come.
Road Repairs — House of Commons, 2018-05-24
Topic: Transportation
Thomas Christopher John Pursglove (Conservative, Centre-right): The proposal to put a weight limit on the North bridge in Oundle is causing great concern, not only to residents but to businesses and bus service users. I have written to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State about the matter. Will he undertake to see what can be done to make sure that the repairs are carried out as soon as possible?
Road Repairs — House of Commons, 2018-05-24
Topic: Transportation
Alexander Jesse Norman (Conservative, Centre-right): As my hon. Friend will know, the North bridge in Oundle falls under the responsibility of Northamptonshire County Council as the highway authority. Since 2015-16, the Department has provided the council with £72 million of local highways maintenance finance, including £12 million this year. That can be used to help to strengthen bridges. It is entirely for the council to determine how that funding is deployed.
Road Repairs — House of Commons, 2018-05-24
Topic: Government Operations
Alexander Jesse Norman (Conservative, Centre-right): Of course, these are matters for local authorities in each case, as the hon. Gentleman rightly points out. Our job is to take a more strategic view of the overall picture, which is what I have said we are planning to do.
Leaving the EU: Ports — House of Commons, 2018-05-24
Topic: Foreign Trade
Christopher Stephen Grayling (Conservative, Centre-right): No, I am afraid it is because the hon. Gentleman does not understand how ports operate today. It is not necessary to stop every lorry at a border—indeed, every lorry is not stopped at the border—to have a free flow of trade. Countries inside the European Union and countries that have no connection with the European Union manage to operate a free flow through ports and across borders, and that is what we will do after we leave.
South Eastern Rail Franchise — House of Commons, 2018-05-24
Topic: Transportation
Questions: What assessment he has made of the potential effect on passenger safety of the terms of the new south-eastern rail franchise which require some travellers to change trains at Lewisham station.
Jo Johnson (Conservative, Centre-right): The hon. Gentleman will be aware that Lewisham is already a fully accessible station. In terms of the total numbers of passengers required to interchange, analysis by Department officials suggests that it may decrease in the next franchise.
South Eastern Rail Franchise — House of Commons, 2018-05-24
Topic: Transportation
Questions: What assessment he has made of the potential effect on passenger safety of the terms of the new south-eastern rail franchise which require some travellers to change trains at Lewisham station.
Jo Johnson (Conservative, Centre-right): As I said, officials believe that we will see a decrease in the numbers of passengers interchanging at Lewisham station in the next franchise period. It is currently an accessible station, although I recognise that its existing design means that it can get crowded at peak times, as the hon. Gentleman said. In recognition of that, the invitation to tender incentivises bidders to consider investment to improve the flow of passengers at Lewisham. Bidders will be required to spend no less than £6.5 million on station improvements, and Lewisham is one candidate for that spend.
South Eastern Rail Franchise — House of Commons, 2018-05-24
Topic: Transportation
Questions: What assessment he has made of the potential effect on passenger safety of the terms of the new south-eastern rail franchise which require some travellers to change trains at Lewisham station.
Jo Johnson (Conservative, Centre-right): At the time the announcement on electrification was made, we made it clear that we would be looking at a number of schemes to invest in infrastructure and enhancements in Cardiff and Swansea. Those discussions are currently under way.