Local Transport West Midlands 2024-03-21
2024-03-21
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
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Context
Local authorities across the West Midlands are facing challenges to improve local transport services and infrastructure.
What steps he is taking to help local authorities improve local transport in the west midlands?
In total, local transport authorities across the west midlands have been allocated around £5 billion to improve local transport services and infrastructure through the city region sustainable transport settlement, bus service improvement plan funding, and our recently announced local transport fund. One thing that would of course hugely help local transport in the west midlands is for voters in the combined authority to re-elect our fantastic Mayor, Andy Street.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q2
Direct Answer
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Context
The Birmingham to Lichfield rail line is currently used only for freight and has the potential to be upgraded for passenger traffic at a cost of about £10 million. The extension passes through the National Memorial Arboretum which sees half a million visitors annually.
When will we see the line being completed so that people can go to the National Memorial Arboretum, which has half a million visitors a year, by rail instead of always having to use road?
I know that my hon. Friend is a long-standing champion of that scheme and takes every opportunity to raise it with us. It is for local authorities to promote schemes for transport in their areas. I am pleased to tell him that, following our decision to cancel the second phase of High Speed 2, we have been able to make significant funds available, so Staffordshire County Council—his local authority—will get just under £260 million from the local transport fund. I urge him to talk to the council to see if it can fund the very modest bid that he has just set out for that scheme.
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Assessment & feedback
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Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
The tram system in the west midlands is experiencing delays, and the rail line between Moor Street, Snowhill and Marylebone—known as the Chiltern line—is unreliable with poor air quality due to diesel operation.
Will the Minister electrify the Chiltern route using the budget freed up from HS2?
There are significant plans to electrify across the network. Another thing we can do to spend money more cost-effectively is consider where battery trains can be used in order not to electrify the very expensive parts of the network. I am also aware that Chiltern is looking at modernising its rolling stock, particularly to improve air quality. All the things that the hon. Gentleman raises are absolutely in progress.
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Assessment & feedback
commitment to electrify specifically using HS2 funds
Consider Where Battery Trains Can Be Used
Response accuracy