argyrotsipi/train-dataset huggingface dataset:
Transport Connectivity — House of Commons, 2022-03-17
Topic: Transportation
Robert Alexander Courts (Conservative, Centre-right): My right hon. Friend has raised the question of Westbury and the difficulties his constituents are facing. I have heard that very clearly, and I will ensure that he gets a detailed response from the roads Minister, Baroness Vere, on the progress.
Transport Connectivity — House of Commons, 2022-03-17
Topic: Transportation
Robert Alexander Courts (Conservative, Centre-right): The Secretary of State has met Lord McLaughlin recently, and he will no doubt have reiterated the point that I reiterate to the hon. Gentleman and everyone who asks about the integrated rail plan, which is that this is £96 billion of investment—the greatest from any Government in recent history.
Transport Connectivity — House of Commons, 2022-03-17
Topic: Transportation
Robin John Millar (Conservative, Centre-right): The Hendy review recommended the creation of a UK-wide strategic transport network. It also identified a gap in north Wales. However, when Transport for Wales bid for funds to develop the business case for investment to fill that gap, it was declined. Will the Minister meet me to discuss and perhaps reconsider that?
Transport Connectivity — House of Commons, 2022-03-17
Topic: Transportation
Robert Alexander Courts (Conservative, Centre-right): We are committed to strengthening transport bonds throughout our Union. I note that the Welsh Government published a report recently saying that they did not support key improvements to the A55 in north Wales, nor the building of new roads, but I know that the roads Minister will be keen to meet my hon. Friend as soon as possible to discuss his individual concerns.
Transport Connectivity — House of Commons, 2022-03-17
Topic: Transportation
Robert Alexander Courts (Conservative, Centre-right): The Department is very keen to work with local communities to ensure that the plan works. I know that the HS2 Minister, my hon. Friend the Member for Pendle (Andrew Stephenson) will be keen to meet the hon. Gentleman to discuss precisely that issue.
Transport Connectivity — House of Commons, 2022-03-17
Topic: Transportation
Peter William Bone (Conservative, Centre-right): Sometimes the Government get criticised over rail, but in my constituency, we have had electrification, more trains and more capacity going to Wellingborough, and we are now getting it going north to the great cities, and we have our station being redeveloped. It is in the middle of the country, and we have Station Island there. Is this an example of what the Government are going to do elsewhere?
Transport Connectivity — House of Commons, 2022-03-17
Topic: Transportation
Robert Alexander Courts (Conservative, Centre-right): Following the Williams-Shapps review, we have announced the creation of Great British Railways, which will create a truly passenger-focused service for the UK. I have already mentioned the £96 billion that has gone into the integrated rail plan, as well as the restoring your railway programme. The Government are focusing on getting passengers on to rail wherever possible.
Bus Driver Shortages — House of Commons, 2022-03-17
Topic: Labor
Andrew George Stephenson (Conservative, Centre-right): I join the hon. Gentleman in paying tribute to bus drivers, who worked throughout the pandemic. The Government supported the work of local bus services with £1.7 billion of funding throughout the period. We do not intervene, however, on the levels of remuneration in private businesses, with the exception of setting rates for the national minimum wage and the national living wage.
Bus Driver Shortages — House of Commons, 2022-03-17
Topic: Transportation
Andrew George Stephenson (Conservative, Centre-right): Similarly to several hon. Members, my grandfather was a bus driver so I always stand in solidarity with bus drivers across the country. The Government have supported buses with record amounts, not just with the money that we are putting in during the pandemic but with a doubling of bus funding compared with the previous spending review. We recently announced a further six months of the covid-19 support package for the buses and light rail sectors, worth a minimum of £150 million.
Rail Network: Accessibility — House of Commons, 2022-03-17
Topic: Transportation
Wendy Morton (Conservative, Centre-right): Thank you, Mr Speaker, for raising your own station too. Levenshulme was nominated in the access for all main programme, but it was unsuccessful. The hon. Gentleman had a conversation with me about that. Let us be absolutely clear, however, that more than 75% of journeys are through step-free stations, compared with fewer than 50% in 2005. We are in the process of setting the funding envelopes for the next rail control period, which is 2024 to 2029. When further funding is available, any station without an accessible route into the station and to all platforms will be a potential candidate. It is an important topic. I recently visited Eridge station to see a project that had been completed there and as we know, it really makes a difference.
Transport for the North and Levelling Up — House of Commons, 2022-03-17
Topic: Transportation
Questions: What discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the potential impact of reductions in Transport for the North’s budget on levelling up in the north of England.
Andrew George Stephenson (Conservative, Centre-right): The right hon. Lady continues to focus on process while we continue to focus on delivery. It is not for the Government to comment on the business planning of a devolved transport body. TfN definitely has enough money to complete its statutory funding commitments, and it has far more money than any other sub-national transport body. On the staff affected by TfN’s move to become the Northern Powerhouse Rail co-sponsor, the Department has commenced discussions on the TUPE process and as such I am unable to comment further at this time.
Bus Stop Safety — House of Commons, 2022-03-17
Topic: Transportation
Trudy Lynne Harrison (Conservative, Centre-right): We take safety, particularly of women and girls, very seriously and I realise the difficulties that have been faced in Plymouth. The hon. Gentleman will know that we recently commissioned our safety champions to work with stakeholders and they have now provided 13 recommendations which will specifically look at how we can protect women and girls on the transport network. I would welcome further consideration on the importance of bus shelters in use and also the illumination of those shelters as an important factor in protecting women and girls.
Bus Stop Safety — House of Commons, 2022-03-17
Topic: Transportation
Nicholas Anthony Fletcher (Conservative, Centre-right): Bus safety is important, but so is train safety. Has the Department had any more thoughts about placing a simple sticker on the back of each train seat advertising the British Transport police text number so that passengers can summon help if required and also asking people to refrain from using bad language? I think the Minister will agree that this also fits nicely with the criteria for the Great British Railways headquarters competition in that Doncaster’s champion MP not only did his apprenticeship on the railway but also helped to secure a more pleasant trip for all future rail passengers.
Bus Stop Safety — House of Commons, 2022-03-17
Topic: Transportation
Trudy Lynne Harrison (Conservative, Centre-right): I am most impressed by my hon. Friend’s doughty campaigning in wanting to headquarter Great British Railways in Doncaster. Of course I agree that antisocial behaviour on public transport is a blight; however, I suspect that there might be unintended consequences from some on-train requests, such as encouraging more swearing and passenger confrontations, but I agree that we should look at doing more in this area and a solution using positive messaging to promote considerate behaviour could be an option.
Bus Stop Safety — House of Commons, 2022-03-17
Topic: Law and Crime
Trudy Lynne Harrison (Conservative, Centre-right): I am sorry to be reminded of that case. We are currently looking at how the justice system works for all drivers and I am happy to write to the hon. Gentleman with an update on that piece of work.
Train Service Frequency: Netherfield, Burton Joyce and Carlton — House of Commons, 2022-03-17
Topic: Transportation
Questions: What steps his Department is taking to help ensure that the frequency of train services in Netherfield, Burton Joyce and Carlton returns to pre-covid-19 outbreak levels.
Wendy Morton (Conservative, Centre-right): The pandemic is changing travel habits and we are starting to see some substantial changes in passenger demand for rail travel. As covid recedes, we must ensure that services are adjusted to meet changes in passenger demand. We are working with operators to consider what further changes might be possible at these stations.
Train Service Frequency: Netherfield, Burton Joyce and Carlton — House of Commons, 2022-03-17
Topic: Transportation
Questions: What steps his Department is taking to help ensure that the frequency of train services in Netherfield, Burton Joyce and Carlton returns to pre-covid-19 outbreak levels.
Thomas William Randall (Conservative, Centre-right): There is a widespread view in Gedling that rail services could be improved. For example, Carlton recently lost its direct service to Matlock and many trains pass through Burton Joyce without stopping. I continue to have discussions with East Midlands Railway about how it might reach the maximum amount of services in its agreement with the Department. I would welcome the opportunity to meet my hon. Friend to discuss how Gedling’s stations might fulfil their potential.
Train Service Frequency: Netherfield, Burton Joyce and Carlton — House of Commons, 2022-03-17
Topic: Transportation
Questions: What steps his Department is taking to help ensure that the frequency of train services in Netherfield, Burton Joyce and Carlton returns to pre-covid-19 outbreak levels.
Wendy Morton (Conservative, Centre-right): I appreciate my hon. Friend raising the matter and can see what a hard-working campaigner he is for his constituents. I assure him that we are working with the operator to consider what further changes might be possible, subject to passenger demand and the cascading of trains into East Midlands Railway. I am happy to meet him to discuss this in more detail.
Rising Fuel Costs: Impact on Motorists — House of Commons, 2022-03-17
Topic: Transportation
Grant Shapps (Conservative, Centre-right): The hon. Lady asks specifically about the additional costs of motoring during these difficult times with what we have seen happen to the crude oil price. I gently remind her that she voted against a measure in the Budget to freeze fuel duty for a 12th consecutive year.
Rising Fuel Costs: Impact on Motorists — House of Commons, 2022-03-17
Topic: Macroeconomics
Aaron Stuart Bell (Conservative, Centre-right): I pay tribute to my right hon. Friend the Member for Harlow (Robert Halfon) for the 12-year freeze in fuel duty—that is extremely welcome—but given the increases in pump prices and the costs for average constituents in Newcastle-under-Lyme, we need to do more at the forthcoming Budget. The Treasury is getting more revenue from VAT, so we need to find ways to reduce that duty burden so that people in my constituency can fill up and continue to go to work. Will the Secretary of State speak to the Chancellor about that?
Rising Fuel Costs: Impact on Motorists — House of Commons, 2022-03-17
Topic: Transportation
Grant Shapps (Conservative, Centre-right): The hon. Member is right to point out the fantastic work done by haulage companies and all their workers. Over the next five years, the 2022-23 freeze will represent £8 billion off the fuel bill for motorists in this country, including the haulier sector, which I recently backed with 32 separate measures to ensure that it can continue to operate during what have been difficult times post covid.
Rising Fuel Costs: Impact on Motorists — House of Commons, 2022-03-17
Topic: Energy
Grant Shapps (Conservative, Centre-right): The hon. Lady is absolutely right about ensuring that any fall is passed on quickly. For example, I notice that Brent crude is down to $100 a barrel at the moment—it had been as high, I think, as $130 a week or two ago—and I want to see that passed on. But I am very curious as to why, given her deep concern about the cost of diesel, she voted against our move to freeze petrol and diesel prices this year.
Rising Fuel Costs: Impact on Motorists — House of Commons, 2022-03-17
Topic: Energy
Grant Shapps (Conservative, Centre-right): I have to say again that words are one thing—I understand the hon. Lady is doing her job—but action is another. When individuals vote against measures that will freeze fuel prices for British consumers and motorists, they can hardly then stand there and say, "Why aren’t the Government doing something?" The Opposition could help: they could vote for it. On EV charging, I do not know where the stat of 1,000 chargers outside London comes from. It is completely untrue. There are nearly 30,000 chargers across the country, of which over 5,500 are rapid. According to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, we now have the fastest chargers in the west. I hope the hon. Lady will welcome that.
Rail Industry: Competition — House of Commons, 2022-03-17
Topic: Transportation
Damian Noel Thomas Collins (Conservative, Centre-right): As international rail travel opens up post the covid pandemic, Eurostar still has an effective monopoly on services through Eurotunnel. What can the Government do to encourage other companies, in particular rail companies from Germany and Spain, that have expressed an interest in running alternative services through the tunnel?
Rail Industry: Competition — House of Commons, 2022-03-17
Topic: Transportation
Wendy Morton (Conservative, Centre-right): I am grateful to my hon. Friend for that question. I was fortunate enough recently to visit both Eurostar and Eurotunnel. What I can say is that the UK Government would support the growth of international rail services given the significant benefits they could provide for the UK. We stand ready to engage with partners to facilitate new routes where there is a commercial proposition to do so.
Rail Industry: Competition — House of Commons, 2022-03-17
Topic: Transportation
Wendy Morton (Conservative, Centre-right): What I can say to the hon. Lady is how important innovation is within the industry. With the new relationship between Great British Railways, the train operators and the innovators there are new opportunities to trial and roll out innovations more rapidly. Central to that will be the better management and exploitation of data, and GBR will be in an excellent place to do that.
Rail Industry: Competition — House of Commons, 2022-03-17
Topic: Transportation
Huw William Merriman (Conservative, Centre-right): We have gone from a situation where competition and franchising delivered £200 million in profits to the Treasury to the situation we have now, where the Government are funding rail to the tune of £15 billion. Some review of costs is of course inevitable. The Rail Minister spoke this week about workplace reform, so will she set out in more detail what those reforms will look like? Will the Government ultimately have the resolve to see this through?
Rail Industry: Competition — House of Commons, 2022-03-17
Topic: Transportation
Wendy Morton (Conservative, Centre-right): I am grateful to my hon. Friend for those kind words. The Williams-Shapps plan for rail, which we published last year, set out the biggest change to the railway in three decades. We are committed to bringing forward that sector-wide reform. The country owes a great deal of gratitude to all railway workers for their vital work throughout the pandemic in keeping the UK moving, but it is important to recognise that the pandemic ushered in a financial crisis across the sector leading to interventions by Government to sustain the industry. Moving forward, the railway must be financially and operationally sustainable for the future so that it delivers the service that passengers want.
Levelling Up: Bus Services in Newcastle — House of Commons, 2022-03-17
Topic: Transportation
Questions: What steps he is taking to improve the (a) quality and (b) affordability of bus services in Newcastle as part of the Government’s levelling-up agenda.
Andrew George Stephenson (Conservative, Centre-right): Our levelling-up agenda includes investing £1.2 billion to deliver better and cheaper bus services across England, as set out in our bus strategy, which is part of more than £3 billion of new spending on buses.
Levelling Up: Bus Services in Newcastle — House of Commons, 2022-03-17
Topic: Transportation
Questions: What steps he is taking to improve the (a) quality and (b) affordability of bus services in Newcastle as part of the Government’s levelling-up agenda.
Andrew George Stephenson (Conservative, Centre-right): We hope to make more announcements on the latest round of funding very soon. Officials from the Department are working with representatives from the city regions, including Nexus and Transport North East, to establish options for integrated multimodal ticketing. We have of course already announced £5.7 billion for transport networks in the eight city regions, and the north-east, the North East Combined Authority and the North of Tyne Combined Authority will receive their share of the funding once appropriate governance is in place.
Airports National Policy Statement 2018 and Jet Zero Strategy — House of Commons, 2022-03-17
Topic: Transportation
Robert Alexander Courts (Conservative, Centre-right): We will not review the airports national policy statement at this time, but will consider the case again once the jet zero strategy has been finalised and there is more certainty about the longer-term impact of covid on aviation.
Airports National Policy Statement 2018 and Jet Zero Strategy — House of Commons, 2022-03-17
Topic: Transportation
David Timothy Simmonds (Conservative, Centre-right): As chair of the all-party parliamentary group on airport communities, I know that many colleagues would like to know whether, in the light of the jet zero strategy, we now have the opportunity to spread the benefits of cleaner air travel to a larger selection of airports across the United Kingdom.
Airports National Policy Statement 2018 and Jet Zero Strategy — House of Commons, 2022-03-17
Topic: Transportation
Robert Alexander Courts (Conservative, Centre-right): My hon. Friend is quite right that the jet zero strategy provides the opportunity to spread cleaner, greener air travel across all parts of the UK. For example, the UK sustainable aviation fuel industry could create up to 11,000 green jobs while helping to level up with production facilities across the UK. We will be looking at regional aviation in our forthcoming aviation strategy.
Airports National Policy Statement 2018 and Jet Zero Strategy — House of Commons, 2022-03-17
Topic: Environment
Robert Alexander Courts (Conservative, Centre-right): The point that the hon. Member misses is that we have also had the jet zero consultation. A number of presentations have come in on that and we need to consider them carefully. There is a lot of interesting work going on and we will respond on that in due course, which will give us the context to consider jet zero and the impact of covid. We will then look at the ANPS again.
Net Zero Strategy: Rail Electrification — House of Commons, 2022-03-17
Topic: Transportation
Trudy Lynne Harrison (Conservative, Centre-right): Our transport decarbonisation plan sets out how we will decarbonise the transport sector by 2050. Electrification will play an important role in decarbonising all modes. As my hon. Friend the Member for Aldridge-Brownhills (Wendy Morton), the Rail Minister, has already said, over 1,221 track miles of electrification have been delivered in Great Britain since 2010, compared with 63 in the 14 years of the previous Administration, and we continue to expand the electrified rail network. For example, the integrated rail plan announcement confirmed that we will complete the electrification of the midland main line and deliver full electrification and upgrade of the trans-Pennine main line.
Net Zero Strategy: Rail Electrification — House of Commons, 2022-03-17
Topic: Transportation
Daniel Robert Kawczynski (Conservative, Centre-right): I thank the Minister for her answer. We are in negotiations with Midlands Connect and her Department about upgrades and new investments on the Shrewsbury to Wolverhampton line, which is a very important line in the west midlands. Will she give me a commitment that she will look at that with a view to electrifying the Shrewsbury to Wolverhampton line as soon as possible?
Net Zero Strategy: Rail Electrification — House of Commons, 2022-03-17
Topic: Transportation
Trudy Lynne Harrison (Conservative, Centre-right): I can certainly give that commitment. I know that my hon. Friend has met with the Rail Minister and will do so again. As he knows, Midlands Connect is developing a business case for journey time improvements on the line connecting Shrewsbury, Wolverhampton and Birmingham. This will assess the enhancements required, the timescales for delivery and the costs and benefits of the scheme.
A14: Funding for Junction 10A — House of Commons, 2022-03-17
Topic: Transportation
Questions: If he will ensure that funding for junction 10A on the A14 at Kettering is incorporated into his Department’s road investment strategy 3 from 2025.
Andrew George Stephenson (Conservative, Centre-right): The findings of the technical review for the A14 junction 10A have been completed by National Highways and form the high-level strategic outline business case for the scheme (SOBC). National Highways have confirmed they will be happy to share the technical review with my hon. Friend and meet him to discuss these in due course.
A14: Funding for Junction 10A — House of Commons, 2022-03-17
Topic: Transportation
Questions: If he will ensure that funding for junction 10A on the A14 at Kettering is incorporated into his Department’s road investment strategy 3 from 2025.
Philip Thomas Hollobone (Conservative, Centre-right): Residents in Kettering, Barton Seagrave and Burton Latimer desperately need junction 10A to be included in road investment strategy 3 from 2025 because with 5,500 new homes being built on the Hanwood Park development to the east of Kettering, Kettering will grind to a halt if this junction is not put in place. Would my hon. Friend be kind enough to secure a meeting for me with the Roads Minister so that we can progress this scheme?
A14: Funding for Junction 10A — House of Commons, 2022-03-17
Topic: Transportation
Questions: If he will ensure that funding for junction 10A on the A14 at Kettering is incorporated into his Department’s road investment strategy 3 from 2025.
Andrew George Stephenson (Conservative, Centre-right): My hon. Friend continues to be the strongest possible champion for this scheme and for his constituents. I know he met the Roads Minister to discuss this recently, but I know my noble Friend the Baroness Vere will be more than happy to meet him again. Discussions about this scheme remain ongoing.
A14: Funding for Junction 10A — House of Commons, 2022-03-17
Topic: Transportation
Questions: If he will ensure that funding for junction 10A on the A14 at Kettering is incorporated into his Department’s road investment strategy 3 from 2025.
Andrew George Stephenson (Conservative, Centre-right): I thank the hon. Lady for her question, with which I have a lot of sympathy. We are committed to making sure that smart motorways are among the safest roads in the country. We want drivers not just to be safe, but, crucially, to feel safe and confident when driving on those roads. That is why we have listened to concerns and are taking forward the Transport Committee’s recommendations. We need to continue to work to ensure that smart motorways are as safe as possible for all road users.