Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Diesel-only Trains: Decommissioning

Thursday 19 May 2022 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Government remains committed to phasing out diesel-only trains by 2040.
  • Honourable member highlights the Global Centre of Rail Excellence in Onllwyn for testing alternative diesel rail technologies.
  • Minister emphasizes the importance of British research, innovation, and business involvement in the railway sector.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Christina Rees Lab
Transport
Context

The Government have committed to phasing out diesel-only trains by 2040, but there is a need for progress updates.

Question

What recent progress the Government have made on phasing out diesel-only trains by 2040.

Answer from Wendy Morton

We remain committed to phasing out diesel-only trains by 2040, and have electrified almost 800 miles of track in the past four years alone to support that goal.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific progress updates or new commitments beyond reiterating the existing commitment.

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Q2 Christina Rees Lab
Transport
Context

The Global Centre of Rail Excellence being developed in Onllwyn, Neath constituency, is the first and only purpose-built UK rail test facility.

Question

The Minister is aware that the Global Centre of Rail Excellence being developed in Onllwyn in my Neath constituency is the first and only purpose-built UK rail test facility, which will test the capability and reliability of alternative diesel rail technologies. Will the Minister add “test British” to her “buy British” approach, so that all new and upgraded rolling stock endure a fault-free running period before being introduced into service in the UK?

Answer from Wendy Morton

The hon. Lady highlights exactly why electrification of our railways is so important and also the importance of British research, British innovation and British businesses' involvement in the railway sector. On the point about electrification, I mentioned earlier that we had included almost 800 miles in England. I remind the House of the importance not just of electrification, but of the fact that it was this Government who, since 2010, have electrified more than 1,200 miles of rail, compared with just 63 under Labour.

Not addressed: Did not address the specific request to include testing requirements for British-made railway technology.

How: Changed Subject To Electrification

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