Transport

The Government's position, as outlined by the first speaker, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport Simon Lightwood, is that officials will continue to work with Chiltern Railways to support the delivery of its fleet renewal programme and explore options to expedite the procurement of additional trains. Lightwood stated that Chiltern's business case is assessing both like-for-like and enhanced capacity rolling stock options, and a final decision will be made considering value for money and affordability. In response, the official opposition spokesperson, Dr Kieran Mullan, questioned the Secretary of State's negotiating position with trade unions, asking how she plans to recover from a "weak negotiating position" for future rounds and what progress has been made on proposals for a pay review body for public rail workers. The debate that followed covered a wide range of topics, including efforts to mitigate disruption during the construction of Old Oak Common station, concerns about speeding and "boy racers" in constituencies, plans for a tram system in Leeds and West Yorkshire, and the need to reduce driving test waiting times. Several MPs raised issues specific to their constituencies, such as the state of roads and level crossings, the potential role of Sustrans in modelling and forecasting cycling levels, and the impact of the lower Thames crossing on their constituents. The Secretary of State and her ministerial team acknowledged these concerns and committed to further discussions and meetings to address them. The debate also touched on the Government's plans to reform bus services, with the Secretary of State emphasising the importance of giving local leaders more control and flexibility over bus funding and allowing them to plan ahead to deliver their local transport priorities. The Minister for Rail, Lilian Greenwood, also discussed the Government's work to support the development of a mass transit system in West Yorkshire. Overall, the debate highlighted the Government's focus on improving transport connectivity, safety, and sustainability across the country, while also addressing the specific concerns and needs of various constituencies.