Written questions by Patel.

What plans she has for the (a) future and (b) timetable for nationalisation of the Greater Anglia rail franchise; for (i) future investment and (ii) plans for (A) ticket offices and (B) steps free access in Greater Anglia railway station redevelopment; and for (1) overall investment, (2) rail fares, (3) investment in rail infrastructure, and (4) investment in rolling stock in the Greater Anglia region; and what recent estimate she has made of passenger numbers in each Greater Anglia station in each year for the next ten years.

The Department announced in December that South-Western Railway’s services will be the first to transfer into public ownership in May 2025, followed by c2c’s services in July 2025 and Greater Anglia’s in the autumn. The Department will issue an expiry notice to Greater Anglia in due course to confirm the exact transfer date. Public ownership will mean all parts of the railway can pull together for the benefit of passengers, and bringing passenger services into public ownership is the first step in the Government’s wider programme of reform. Through future legislation, we will set out the role Great British Railways will have in fares, ticketing, and other operational aspects of the railway. Fares and ticketing will continue to be the responsibility of train operators until Great British Railways is established. The Access for All programme has delivered step free access at more than 250 stations across Britain. Ministers are carefully considering the best approach to the Access for All programme, including as it relates to Greater Anglia stations. Greater Anglia has taken steps to improve station accessibility with its work on virtual trains and station tours, and a new accessible footbridge will be installed at Stowmarket during 2025. The business planning round for 2025/26 is currently underway and proposals regarding redevelopments and rail infrastructure will be reviewed with decisions made in due course. Greater Anglia invested £1.4 billion in new trains for the Anglia region and these new trains are delivering a real change in customer experience. There has not been a recent estimate of passenger numbers in each of Greater Anglia’s stations in each year for the next ten years.

Pursuant to the Answer of 6 December 2024 to Question 16758 on A12: Essex, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of delays to the implementation of the A12 widening Scheme on (a) the economy, (

As set out in the Fixing the Foundations policy paper, this government has inherited £22bn worth of unfunded pressures from the previous government, including £2.9bn of unfunded transport commitments. There has not been a spending review since 2021. It wa...

With reference to Plan for Change: Milestones for mission-led government, published on 5 December 2024, CP 1210, what transport infrastructure projects are under consideration; and whether the (a) A12 Widening

The government’s 'Plan for Change' sets out that, through reforms and rule changes, 150 planning decisions on major infrastructure projects would be fast-tracked by the end of this Parliament. Rather than specifying schemes at this stage, this is about se...

With reference to the Written Statement of 4 December 2024, HCWS281 on Railway Passenger Services, what plans she has to consult (a) Members of Parliament, (b) local authorities, (c) passenger representatives a

The Written Statement, HCWS281, outlined that Greater Anglia’s services will transfer into public ownership in autumn 2025 and that an expiry notice will be issued to Greater Anglia in due course to confirm the exact date. Bringing passenger services into...

With reference to the Written Statement of 4 December 2024, HCWS281 on Railway Passenger Services, whether she plans to (a) improve (i) step-free access and (ii) rail infrastructure for Greater Anglia services

The Access for All programme has delivered step free access at more than 250 stations across Britain. Ministers are carefully considering the best approach to the Access for All programme. We are unable to comment on next steps regarding specific stations...

With reference to the Written Statement of 4 December 2024, HCWS281 on Railway Passenger Services, what plans she has to review (a) service quality, (b) ticket pricing, (c) the business model and (d) timetables

Greater Anglia will be brought into public ownership, with its date for transfer scheduled for Autumn 2025. The business planning round for 2025/26 is currently underway and plans regarding service quality, ticket pricing, business model and timetables wi...

With reference to paragraph 4.96 of the Autumn Budget 2024, HC 295, published on 30 October 2024, how her Department plans to allocate the additional £500 million for local roads maintenance baseline funding in

This Government takes the condition of local roads very seriously and is committed to maintaining and renewing the local highway network. The Government will confirm 2025/26 funding allocations to English local highway authorities, including Essex County ...

When she plans to publish funding allocations for highways in Essex County Council for the 2025-26 financial year.

This Government takes the condition of local roads very seriously and is committed to maintaining and renewing the local highway network. The Government will confirm 2025/26 funding allocations to English local highway authorities, including Essex County ...

If she will make an estimate of the potential impact of the time taken to determine the application for the A12 Junction 19 to Junction 25 widening scheme on (a) the economy, (b) road safety and (c) the cost of

The Development Consent Order (DCO) application for the A12 Chelmsford to A120 widening scheme, was granted on 12 January 2024. I can confirm that the DCO was determined within the statutory timeframes.

If she will provide funding to improve step-free access at railway stations.

The Government is committed to improving the accessibility of the railway and recognises the social and economic benefits this brings to communities. Since its launch in 2006, the Access for All programme has delivered step free access at more than 250 st...

What funding she has allocated to Essex County Council for highways in each of the next five years.

This Government takes the condition of local roads very seriously and is committed to maintaining and renewing the local road network. Within the Budget on 30 October, the Chancellor announced that for the 2025/26 financial year there would be a £500 mill...

If she will provide funding for the A12 widening scheme.

On 30 July 2024, the Secretary of State announced that she was commissioning a review of the Department’s capital spend portfolio. This review is ongoing and will support the development of our long-term strategy for transport, developing a modern and int...

If she will provide funding for the A120 dual carriageway scheme.

The A120 Braintree to A12 dualling scheme is part of the pipeline of projects being considered for possible delivery as part of a future Road Investment Strategy beyond 2030.

What funding she plans to provide to Essex County Council for highways in each of the next five years.

This Government takes the condition of local roads very seriously and is committed to maintaining and renewing the local road network. To this end, we will provide authorities with funding to help them fix up to one million more potholes across England in...

Whether she has had recent discussions with National Highways on the planned timetable for work on the A12 Chelmsford to A120 widening scheme.

On 30 July 2024, the Secretary of State announced that she was commissioning a review of the Department’s capital spend portfolio. This review will support the development of our long-term strategy for transport, developing a modern and integrated network...

If she will provide additional funding to National Highways for the A12 Chelmsford to A120 widening scheme.

On 30 July 2024, the Secretary of State announced that she was commissioning a review of the Department’s capital spend portfolio. This review will support the development of our long-term strategy for transport, developing a modern and integrated network...

What plans she has for further funding under the Access for All scheme; and if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of allocating such funding to provide step-free access at Marks Tey railway sta

We are carefully considering the best approach to 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.

What plans she has for the future of the East Anglia railway franchise.

The Government has been clear that all passenger railway services delivered by private sector companies under National Rail Contracts will be brought into public ownership by the end of this Parliament as current contracts end, train operating companies r...

Whether she plans to provide funding for the renovation of Witham railway station.

Funding decisions on station renovations such as Witham will be taken in due course, as part of departmental planning for 2025/26 and beyond. At this time, there are no timescales for when delivery of a Witham upgrade scheme might be possible.

Whether she plans to announce new investment for highways in Essex.

On 30 July 2024, the Secretary of State announced that she was commissioning a review of the Department’s capital spend portfolio. This review will support the development of our long-term strategy for transport, developing a modern and integrated network...