Written questions by Holden.

Whether she plans to require train operators, including Northern, to begin recording instances of failed passenger assistance.

All train and station operators, including Northern, are required by their Accessible Travel Policies to monitor their performance in delivering assistance, including failures. The Office of Rail and Road publish annually the ‘Experience of Passenger Assist’ report which records the experiences of users of Passenger Assist, helping to monitor trends. The most recent report can be accessed at https://www.orr.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2025-07/2024-2025-experiences-of-passenger-assist-research-report.pdf

What incentives will be put in place to encourage growth in passenger numbers for the rail network for (a) Great British Railways as an organisation, (b) senior management within Great British Railways and (c) the rail workforce.

The Government has been clear that GBR will be incentivised to deliver for passengers. By bringing responsibility for track and train into one organisation, GBR will be able to remove the mixture of conflicting incentives across multiple organisations and realign incentives towards passengers. This is being considered as part of the continuing GBR design process. The Long-Term Rail Strategy will set out the outcomes we expect GBR to achieve, including an unrelenting focus on passengers. This will inform the development of GBR’s long-term strategic business plans, ensuring passengers, and other users of the railway, remain central to the organisation’s culture. The continued expectation of a reduction in subsidy for the railways also incentivises growing passenger numbers, as well as benefitting taxpayers.

Pursuant to the Answer of 12 January 2026 to Question 101854, how much funding is being provided over the Spending Review period in a) bus services, b) active travel infrastructure, and c) the Mode Shift Revenue Support grant; and over what years that funding will be allocated.

Funding for Bus Services can be found on GOV.UK at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/local-authority-bus-grant-allocations/labg-revenue-allocations-2026-to-2029 Funding for Active Travel Infrastructure was published as part of the Spending Review 2025, and can be found on GOV.UK at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/spending-review-2025-document Mode Shift Revenue Support grant: Up to £20 million provisional budget for 2026/27 – shared with Waterborne Freight Grant. Future funding arrangements subject to future departmental business planning.

What milestone dates have been set for the introduction of AI-powered disruption updates on LNER services.

In the coming months London North Eastern Railway will begin introducing advanced AI‑powered tools designed to keep passengers better informed and in control when travelling. This new capability will enable instant travel updates and make it easier for customers to manage their journeys during disruption.These improvements will be supported by enhanced, data‑driven systems that aim to reduce delays and help deliver a more reliable railway for passengers.

When she expects construction works on the Lower Thames Crossing to commence.

Construction enabling works have commenced north and south of the River Thames. These include ground works to create haul roads, construction of site compounds, utility works, ecological and archaeological works and extensive pre-construction surveys are ongoing.

Whether her Department has made an estimate of the fatality rate per vehicle mile travelled for hybrid, petrol, diesel and fully electric cars in each of the last five years.

The Department does not hold data that would enable an estimate of fatality rates per vehicle mile travelled by propulsion type.The STATS19 collection and DVLA records provide a breakdown of fatalities in reported road traffic collisions by vehicle and propulsion type. This information is published in data table RAS0507 available on the gov.uk website. However, data on mileage driven by vehicles of different propulsion types is not available to the Department. Consequently, it is not possible to calculate fatality rates per mile travelled by propulsion type.

Whether her Department has made an assessment of the adequacy of the the Greater Anglia timetable changes from 14 December 2025 for meeting peak-time passenger demand at Billericay station over the period of the local plan.

Greater Anglia added extra carriages to a small number of Saturday services operating from Billericay as part of the December 2025 timetable change. Greater Anglia monitors passenger demand and will make adjustments to train services and capacity where required, and where it is possible to do. I expect Greater Anglia to continue to work with local stakeholders to develop timetables for the future.

Pursuant to the Answer of 12 January 2026 to Question 101846, how many station staff were employed by TransPennine Express on (a) 4 July 2024 and (b) the most recent date for which figures are available; and what the percentage change in station staffing levels has been over that period.

For 2024-25 rail period 4 (23 June-20 July 2024) TransPennine Express reported 153.5 full-time-equivalent (FTE) staff at stations, including barrier staff. That figure for 2025-26 rail period 10 (7 December 2025-3 January 2026) was 178 FTE, representing a 16 per cent increase. The increase over 2024-25 were mainly due to filling vacancies that had been paused pending the previous Government’s proposed closure of ticket offices which they subsequently reversed.

With reference to her Department’s Efficiency Delivery Plans, what proportion of the forecast reduction in the rail passenger services subsidy over the period covered by the Spending Review is attributable to (a) quantified administrative efficiencies arising from the creation of Great British Railways, (b) efficiencies delivered through regulated settlements, and (c) assumptions on passenger ridership and revenue growth.

The Department’s Spending Review settlement and additional commentary were set out on gov.uk. As is usual, the Department does not publish further detail on those budgets. The reduction in the rail passenger services subsidy over the Spending Review period will be enabled through delivery of the public ownership programme, a relentless focus on improving operational performance and improvements for customers, and by driving passenger revenue growth.

How many driving mobility assessment centres operate in the UK; how many are managed by NHS Trusts; how many are operated by charitable organisations; and what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the long-term sustainability of the funding model for these centres.

There are fourteen mobility centres in operation in the UK. Four are managed by NHS Trusts, and nine by charitable organisations, with one Community Interest Company. The Department for Transport provides grant funding to mobility centres that have been accredited by Driving Mobility in England, and we work closely with them.

What proportion of Advance tickets previously available on LNER routes remain available following the introduction of long-distance simplified fares.

LNER does not publish data on the proportion of Advance/Fixed tickets sold before and after the commencement of the trial.

With reference to her oral contribution of 8 January 2026, Official Report, column 420, on what evidential basis she said that the majority of single tickets under the extension of contactless ticketing will be the same price or lower than under the previous fares structure.

As part of our fares simplification to expand Pay As You Go (PAYG) with Contactless ticketing, we introduced single leg pricing. The Department worked with the rail industry to ensure that as much as possible, single fares will cost roughly half the price of a return. The Department is currently progressing the evaluation of the phases of PAYG rollout, in the South East, following the launch of phase one stations last year. This will measure the impact of both PAYG technology and fares reform on passenger experience. Once the evaluation is complete, we will make the final reports public.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the long-distance simplified fares trials on passengers.

The Department has commissioned independent evaluation on the trial, this research has not yet concluded. The current evidence is provided by London North Eastern Railway and is available at: https://assets.ctfassets.net/mxack5k9p2sw/6k2Evw4OmGsvywKgBg9U9j/e63a4ca09d2c4e01fada29f731d90f7b/Simpler_Fares_LNER_Website_Copy_Enhanced_Sept_2025.pdf.

When she plans to bring forward legislative proposals on the privatisation of the Dartford Crossing.

Autumn Budget 2025 announced that the Government's preferred financing option for the Lower Thames Crossing scheme at this stage is the Regulated Asset Base (RAB) model. Under this model, ownership and operations of the Dartford Crossing would transfer to a new regulated private sector entity, which would be responsible for operating and maintaining both the Dartford Crossing and the new Lower Thames Crossing, ensuring a consistent and reliable service. This entity will be overseen by a regulator to ensure it performs and protects users. New primary legislation is required to enable the RAB model to be utilised to deliver roads. We intend to put forward legislation, when parliamentary time allows for it.

Which schemes are included in the Department’s longer-term rail infrastructure pipeline; what the status is of the Ely–Haughley junction improvements within that pipeline; and what criteria are used to determine when schemes are considered for funding.

The Secretary of State updated Parliament on 8th July 2025 regarding those rail and road infrastructure projects which will progress following completion of SR25The previous government had announced a number of schemes that were unfunded, including Ely Area Capacity Enhancement.

What her planned timetable is for bringing forward legislation on micromobility vehicles, including e-scooters.

The Government has made a commitment to pursue legislative reform for micromobility vehicles, including e-scooters, when Parliamentary time allows.

Pursuant to the Answer of 12 January 2026 to Question 101830 on c2c Railway: Rolling Stock, how many Class 357 units operated by c2c have received all planned upgrades and modifications in full.

All Door Overhaul and Tight Lock Auto Coupler Overhaul works planned for 2025/26 have been completed on 74 units. Planned train painting and corrosion repairs and LED lighting upgrades are currently being undertaken.

Pursuant to the Answer of 12 January 2026 to Question 101859, when her Department's work with Active Travel England on research into side road zebra crossings began; and when she expects that work to conclude.

Active Travel England’s Inclusive Crossings Research is currently underway. In 2024, Active Travel England commissioned Transport for West Midlands to undertake research at the University of Warwick to evaluate the usability, safety, and design of side road zebra crossings, particularly for disabled pedestrians, and to inform future design specifications. The data collection for the project primarily took place in the autumn of 2024 and into early 2025. Work to analyse and report on the findings has subsequently been undertaken and it is expected that the project will conclude later in 2026.

What responses have been received from delivery platforms following the Department’s letter on compliance with the Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycle Regulations 1983; and whether delivery platforms are expected to participate in the national work-related road safety charter.

The letters to the delivery platforms from the Department have been placed in the Library of the House. Responses were received from all three delivery platforms that were written to, and these provided a clear understanding of the requirements of the Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycle Regulations. On 7 January, we published our new Road Safety Strategy, setting out our vision for a safer future on our roads for all. The Strategy sets an ambition target to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured on the roads by 65% by 2035. The safety of anyone driving on our roads is a priority, and that includes those who drive for work. We have therefore announced as part of the strategy that we will pilot a voluntary National Work-Related Road Safety Charter for businesses that require people to drive or ride for them. The aim of the Charter is to help employers reduce work-related road risk and improve safety for all road users by promoting good practice, and to improve compliance with current legislation and guidance. It will include the use of e-bikes alongside other vehicles. The pilot will run for two years and will be monitored and fully evaluated. The Government will develop this Charter in collaboration with business and industry, and it will be informed by existing schemes.

When she expects to announce which schemes will be taken forward under the Access for All programme.

This government is committed to improving the accessibility of the railway and recognises the social and economic benefits this brings to communities. In May 2024, the previous government selected 50 stations for initial feasibility work for potential upgrades as part of the Access for All programme, before delivery funding was secured. On 15 January 2026, we confirmed that 8 Access for All projects will be progressing directly to delivery and 23 projects will undergo design work for potential future delivery. Full details were provided to the House in a Written Ministerial Statement which can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/improving-accessibility-at-railway-stations-across-britain.