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Select Committee · Transport Committee

Trains fit for the future?

Status: Closed Opened: 22 Oct 2020 Closed: 16 Sep 2021 18 recommendations 8 conclusions 1 report

The inquiry will examine how technologies such as electric, hydrogen and battery can be deployed to reduce the rail industry’s reliance on diesel-only trains. Read written evidence submitted in the previous Parliament .

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Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Sixth Report - Trains fit for the future? HC 876 23 Mar 2021 26 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

2 items
21 Recommendation Sixth Report - Trains fit for the futur… Deferred

Encouraging modal shift from road to rail freight will be an essential part of ensuring...

Encouraging modal shift from road to rail freight will be an essential part of ensuring the transport sector contributes to the net zero 2050 target. It is therefore crucial that any action taken to decarbonise the rail network does not have the adverse effect of distorting the competitiveness of the … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government notes the recommendation, recognising the importance of freight decarbonisation without distorting competitiveness, and commits to setting out further details in the forthcoming Transport Decarbonisation Plan and a cross-modal freight strategy.
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Department for Transport
22 Recommendation Sixth Report - Trains fit for the futur… Deferred

As part of its upcoming cross modal freight strategy, the Department should ensure there is...

As part of its upcoming cross modal freight strategy, the Department should ensure there is a single cross-modal freight decarbonisation target including both rail and road freight. (Paragraph 98) Research and development funding

Government response AI summary
The government notes the recommendation and will set out further details on freight decarbonisation, including a pathway to net zero, in the forthcoming Transport Decarbonisation Plan and cross-modal freight strategy, rather than committing to a specific target now.
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Department for Transport

Oral evidence sessions

2 sessions
Date Witnesses
9 Dec 2020 Andrew Haines · Network Rail, Andrew Kluth · Rail Industry Decarbonisation Taskforce, Chris Heaton-Harris MP · Northern Ireland Office, Helen McAllister · Network Rail, Malcolm Brown · Rail Industry Decarbonisation Taskforce, Philip Luxford · Department for Transport, Rachel Maclean MP · Department for Transport View ↗
11 Nov 2020 Chris Smith · Thirteen Group, David Clarke · Railway Industry Association, Leo Murray · Possible, Mark Gaynor · Rail Delivery Group, Mary Grant · Porterbrook, Paul Smart View ↗

Who gave evidence

13 witnesses
WitnessOrganisationSessions
Andrew Haines · Chief Executive Network Rail 1
Andrew Kluth · Lead Carbon Specialist Rail Industry Decarbonisation Taskforce 1
Chris Heaton-Harris MP · Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Northern Ireland Office 1
Chris Smith · Executive Director of Business Growth Thirteen Group 1
David Clarke · Technical Director Railway Industry Association 1
Helen McAllister · Strategy and Planning Director Network Rail 1
Leo Murray · Director of Innovation Possible 1
Malcolm Brown · Chair Rail Industry Decarbonisation Taskforce 1
Mark Gaynor · Head of Railway Planning Rail Delivery Group 1
Mary Grant · Chief Executive Officer Porterbrook 1
Paul Smart — 1
Philip Luxford · Director of One Railway and Security Department for Transport 1
Rachel Maclean MP · Parliamentary Under Secretary of State Department for Transport 1