Reforms needed to combat cable theft
‘Cable Theft on the Railway’ (HC 1609) identifies urgent reforms needed to combat cable theft which last year cost Network Rail more than £16 million and lead to over 35,000 disrupted journeys.
The metal recycling industry is worth £5.6 billion a year and employs almost 8,000 people, but police dismiss the 'Scrap Metal Dealers Act - 1964' which the report refers to as "Steptoe and Son" legislation.
Government confirms high speed rail strategy
The report 'High Speed Rail: Investing in Britain's Future - Decisions and Next Steps’ (Cm. 8247) confirms plans to implement a high speed rail network connecting London and Birmingham by 2026.
The first phase of the High Speed 2 (HS2) project is already being constructed and will be extended to Leeds and Manchester by 2033, according to the Department for Transport.
Channel Tunnel should be utilised more effectively, advise MPs
In the report 'Tunnel Vision? Completing the European Rail Market’ (HL 229) the European Union Committee discusses how to unlock the Channel Tunnel's full potential.
Focusing particularly on the Channel Tunnel's role in connecting the passenger and freight rail network in Europe, the Committee's seven-month long inquiry has heard from a variety of rail experts including the Chief Executive of Eurostar, representatives from Eurotunnel and Deutsche Bahn and Transport Minister Theresa Villiers MP.
Road network requires change to reduce congestion
As responsibility for UK roads is split between several organisations, a collective approach is required to lower the existing road network's congestion rates.
Discussed in ‘Out of the Jam: Reducing Congestion on our Roads’ (HC 872)’, the cost of road congestion for the UK economy is expected to be £22 billion per annum until 2025; road and traffic management therefore requires reform without road building or road pricing.
Committee warns of further cuts to bus services
The Transport Committee reveals that extensive cuts to rural, evening and weekend bus services will prevent disadvantaged people from reaching essential facilities.
The report, 'Bus Services after the Spending Review’ (HC 750) details how severe cuts, scheduled to commence in 2012-13, will affect the old, young and disabled substantially leaving them unable to participate in employment, education or voluntary work and to access vital services such as healthcare and retail facilities.
Importance of winter weather impact on UK transport recognised
Preparation to prevent disruption to transport networks in bad winter weather conditions is essential after the UK faced its third consecutive cold winter in 2010-11 with heavy snow.
'Keeping the UK Moving: the Impact on Transport of the Winter Weather in December 2010’ (HC 794) examines how snow chaos last December closed Heathrow, disabled parts of the rail network and disrupted many roads.
Explanation of how transport expenditure will strengthen the economy required
The Transport Committee calls on the Government to publish a White Paper on its transport strategy, explaining in particular how spending on transport will deliver economic growth and development.
Such a strategy must set objectives for all transport spending and explain the criteria Ministers will use to decide between different claims on limited financial resources, as detailed in 'Transport and the Economy’ (HC 473).
M25 private finance contract was mishandled
In May 2009 the Highways Agency signed a 30 year private finance contract for widening two sections of the M25 motorway, including the Dartford Crossing, and maintaining the entire 125 mile length of the road, and 125 miles of connecting roads and motorways.
The Committee of Public Accounts carried out a full review of the private finance contract in the report, 'M25 Private Finance Contract' (HC 651).
Transport system overhaul for fiscal and environmental improvement
Revision of current funding for the UK transport system is essential to help create economic growth and reduce carbon emissions.
In the White Paper ‘Creating Growth, Cutting Carbon’ (Cm. 7996), the Department for Transport (DfT) outlines the need to offer green alternatives for car drivers where possible, as two thirds of all journeys are under five miles.
Demand for rail service improvements rises as public spending falls
The goal to increase the number of passenger places on trains in the next five years will not be met, ‘Increasing Passenger Rail Capacity’ (HC 471) reports.
The Department for Transport (DfT) is eighteen months into a five-year, £9 billion investment programme to improve rail travel. Latest plans show all the relevant targets outlined will not be met.
Innovative infrastructure plan introduced for UK economic growth
The Government has acknowledged the need to expand private sector businesses across all regions and industries to improve the quality of life for everyone in the UK.
'National Infrastructure Plan 2010' details plans to develop world class infrastructure for the Spending Review period and beyond.
Police data shows a decline in fatalities on the road in Britain
A report by the Department for Transport (DfT) has revealed that in 2009 there were 316 fewer fatalities as a result of road accidents in Great Britain.
'Reported Road Casualties Great Britain: 2009' presents detailed statistics about the circumstances of personal injury road accidents collected by the police STATS19 system; the reference number used to record incidents.
High speed rail network proposed by the Department for Transport
In January 2009, the Government established High Speed Two Ltd (HS2 Ltd) to consider the options for a new high speed rail network in Britain, starting with a costed and deliverable proposal for a new line from London to Birmingham.
HS2 Ltd's report concludes that there is a strong business case for a new London to Birmingham line, and sets out detailed recommendations for the design of its route, together with a range of options for how it might be extended to serve other conurbations.
Department for Transport neglected risk analysis when negotiating Metronet contract
In 2003, the Government entered into three innovative 30 year contracts with private sector contractors to upgrade London's underground rail system. Four years later, in 2007, two of the three contractors (Metronet BCV and Metronet SSL, known collectively as Metronet) went into administration when they could no longer meet their spending obligations.
'Department for Transport: The Failure of Metronet' (HC 390) reports that the loss to the taxpayer arising from Metronet's poor financial control and inadequate corporate governance is some £170 million to £410 million. The Department's oversight and management of risk on the Metronet contracts were inadequate, especially given that it provided a £1 billion a year grant, was ultimately responsible for delivery and carried the majority of the risk of failure.
Road safety for pedestrians and cyclists examined
In this report, 'Improving Road Safety for Pedestrians and Cyclists in Great Britain (HC 665)', the Public Accounts Committee finds that Great Britain is one of the safest countries in the world in terms of road deaths and the Department for Transport (the Department) is on track to achieve its overall road safety targets for 2010. It is unacceptable though that when compared internationally, Great Britain's record on pedestrian and particularly child pedestrian deaths per head of population is some way behind the best.
Ticketing and concessionary travel on public transport reviewed
This Report from the House of Commons Transport Committee, 'Ticketing and Concessionary Travel on Public Transport' (HC 84), examines the aim of producing an integrated ticketing system across England, with the introduction of smartcard concessionary travel passes.
Management of rail incidents examined
In the 2006-07 period 800,000 incidents led to 14 million minutes of delay to franchised passenger rail services, costing a minimum of £1 billion (an average of around £73 for each minute of delay) in the time lost to passengers. Such incidents include infrastructure faults, fleet problems, fatalities, and trespass.
This Report from the National Audit Office, 'Reducing Passenger Rail Delays by Better Management of Incidents' (HC 308), examines the delays to passengers on main line rail services and what needs to be done to reduce such incidents.
The case for Crossrail
To help inform the debate,
'Government
Overview of the Case for Crossrail and its Environmental Impacts’ (Cm 7250)
summarises the work that has already been done to assess, control, and mitigate
the environmental impacts of Crossrail and explains why the Government believes
that the Crossrail project is worthy of its support.
Sustainable transport policy set out
This White Paper, ‘Towards
a Sustainable Transport System: Supporting Economic Growth in a Low Carbon
World’ (Cm. 7226), examines sustainable transport policy in the light of the
Eddington Study and the Stern Report.
Sustainable railways
This White Paper
'Delivering
a Sustainable Railway' (Cm. 7176) from the Department for Transport is the
first plan for major growth of the British railways since the 1950s.
Local road pricing proposed
Rising demand for transport is a consequence of a strong
and prosperous economy, as well as increasing globalisation of markets for
goods and services.
'Strengthening
Local Delivery: Draft Local Transport Bill' (Cm. 7043) aims to tackle
congestion and improve public transport.
The Eddington Transport Study, the case for action
The UK transport system currently supports 61 billion journeys a year.
It is already clear that some parts of the system are under severe strain and significant transport challenges are looming.
This Study demonstrates that the performance of the UK’s transport networks will be crucial to sustained productivity and competitiveness.
Local bus services across the UK
Buses are a key local service, but usage has been in
decline since the 1950s. The Report examines the particular problems local
authorities face in developing and implementing effective bus strategies.
New Road Safety Act in force
The Road Safety Act 2006 is essential reading for anyone
involved in the transport and infrastructure sector or the driving industry.
This Act of Parliament
brings into force new legislation regarding road traffic, registration
plates, vehicle and driver information, trunk road picnic areas and private
hire vehicles.
West Coast Main Line unable to sustain passenger
growth
The NAO finds that the West Coast Main Line may not be able
to sustain passenger growth within 10 years despite a £8.6bn investment.
This report examines how effectively the Strategic Rail Authority/Department
for Transport and Network Rail turned around the West Coast programme between
2002 and 2006.
EU/US Passenger Name Record Agreement examined
This Report
'The
EU/US Passenger Name Record (PNR) Agreement' (HL 108) from the House of
Lords European Union Committee examines the Passenger Name Record (PNR)
Agreement between the United States and the European Union.
For every
flight into, out of or over their territory the United States requires detailed
information on all passengers and crew. Much of the information is collected by
the airlines - the Passenger Name Record (PNR).
Costs of building roads reviewed
‘Estimating
and Monitoring the Costs of Building Roads in England’ (HC 426) is a Report
from the House of Commons Committee of Public Accounts looking at Department
for Transport / Highways Agency expenditure on the development of new
roads.
UK aviation industry
environmental obligations
Following on from the Government's Transport White Paper
‘The
Future of Air Transport’ (Cm 6046), published in December 2003, this report
details the progress to deliver a sustainable air transport policy across the
UK to the year 2030.
The White Paper proposed:
- A new runway
at Stansted
- Development of Heathrow, including a further runway and
additional terminal capacity has been supported
- Options for two new
runways at Gatwick and a second runway at Luton are not supported
- Proposed additional runway at Edinburgh airport as well as substantial
terminal
- Development at Glasgow Airport development of a new central
Scotland airport
- Increased capacity at Manchester and Liverpool an
additional runway at Birmingham.