Commons Sense

House of Commons · Written Ministerial Statement

Rail update

16 October 2020 · Department for Transport

Proposed by Grant Shapps Con Welwyn Hatfield

Transport

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

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At a glance

Key points

  • Grant Shapps is updating the House on a new three year contract for the CrossCountry rail franchise with Arriva.
  • The contract runs until October 2023 and aims to provide stability and certainty for rail services.
  • Environmental measures are included in the agreement to support UK recovery from COVID-19.

Issue summary

Grant Shapps is updating the House about a new contract for the CrossCountry rail franchise.

Action requested

The Government has signed a new three-year contract with Arriva to continue vital train services on the CrossCountry network until October 2023. The agreement focuses on providing stability, certainty, and environmental measures while supporting UK recovery from COVID-19.

Key facts

  • The CrossCountry rail franchise is the most extensive passenger rail franchise in Great Britain, covering a network stretching from Aberdeen to Penzance.
  • Arriva will continue to operate the service for three more years until October 2023.
  • The contract includes measures to reduce diesel emissions through trials of electrical shore supplies and on-train batteries.
  • The Government pays train companies under Emergency Recovery Measures Agreements (ERMAs) announced in September.
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