Public Transport: Expansion and Electrification

Question

14:37:00

Asked by

To ask His Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to enable the expansion and electrification of public transport networks to meet their net-zero emissions target.

My Lords, the Government are committed to decarbonising transport in support of our national missions to kick-start economic growth and make Britain a clean energy superpower, and public transport must of course play its part. The Department for Transport is overhauling public transport services and supporting active travel so that lower-carbon options are attractive choices. Through the electrification of public transport, we will reduce carbon emissions from the fleet, improving passenger services and creating more sustainable journeys.

As the Minister will know, surface transport emissions are our largest proportion of emissions in the UK at the moment—about a quarter. The Government have done a fair bit on the buses side, which I welcome, but will they commit to 2030 being the first year when we ban new diesel buses from our roads? Will they continue the current level of funding of the zero-emission bus grant after the present funding runs out later this year?

I thank the noble Lord for his question. As he will be aware, the previous Government consulted on an end date for the sale of diesel buses back in spring 2022. As he referred to, we are currently legislating in the Bus Services (No. 2) Bill to accelerate bus decarbonisation. We will be placing a requirement on operators not to use new non-zero-emission buses from a date in the future that is not earlier than 2030. This allows the sector to plan for a smooth transition to a zero-emission future.

Has the Minister made any assessment at all of the effectiveness of the Coventry very light rail system? As its name implies, it is easier and cheaper to construct than conventional urban tramways. In particular, has any assessment been made as to the relevance of that system to possible development in other major cities in Britain?

I thank my noble friend for that question. He is absolutely right. In the right setting, light rail systems can be a viable and attractive alternative to heavy rail or, indeed, more bus systems. I can tell him that several regions outside London with existing or planned mass-transit systems are receiving investment through the city region sustainable transport settlements programme. This funding is providing five-year local transport capital settlements over 2022-23 to 2026-27 to eligible mayoral combined authorities, which will include Coventry, for investment in public and sustainable transport infrastructure, including light rail.

My Lords, is it mathematically and physically possible to strengthen the UK’s electricity supply system in time to meet the UK’s net-zero target?

I thank the noble Earl for the question. Of course, we are aware that it is important to develop greater electricity supply and infrastructure. We are confident that we can work with our partners—on transport with Network Rail and more widely with National Grid—to develop the sort of capacity of which he speaks, to develop the diesel-free, carbon-free future we are talking about.

My noble friend will recall that, despite clear undertakings, the last Conservative Government axed the proposed electrification of the Cardiff to Swansea line. Is there any prospect of that now being reconsidered?

I am pleased to say that rail is already the greenest form of transport, but more is indeed needed to meet our contribution to achieving net zero by 2050. For instance, 9% of all passenger miles are covered by electric vehicles, so it accounts for only 1% of transport emissions across the sector. We are investing in electrification, particularly on the trans-Pennine route upgrade—to electrify and upgrade the main arterial route between Manchester, Huddersfield, Leeds and York. I cannot give my noble friend any commitments today, obviously, on extending the great western main line electrification, but we are working to identify other opportunities for further electrification in light of the spending view.

My Lords, what is the business case for electrification of public transport, when government policy means that we have the highest electricity prices in the developed world, a position that will only get worse if we join the EU Emissions Trading Scheme, as mooted in this morning’s deal?

I admire the noble Lord’s perspicacity in following this line of argument, but it is of course our reliance on gas from overseas that causes such fragility and variability in the cost of energy in this country. “I believe that the struggle for decarbonised transport, clean development and clean air is as important as the struggle for clean water was in the 19th century”— those are wise words, but they are not my own. Those are the words of Grant Shapps, the former Conservative Transport Secretary.

My Lords, what role do the Government see for hydrogen in fully decarbonising the rail network? Could alternative zero-emission options, such as hydrogen trains, be the solution where electrification is not economically or geographically viable?

My Lords, we are looking for opportunities to provide diesel-free solutions to rail travel. That includes not only electrifying more of the network but looking for infills such as bi-modes, or some of the battery trials we have seen in places such as Greenford and on Merseyrail, to supplement non-electrified routes in a carbon-free way. Hydrogen has its place in the mix, but the sector seems to be taking a mostly electric route these days.

My Lords, it is absolutely right that we try to move forward to decarbonise our public transport system, but many of our rural areas have quite inadequate public transport already, before we start to add that as an extra burden. Could the Minister tell us what rural-proofing is being done on this policy so that we can make sure that we are getting levelling up among rural areas?

I will start by pointing the right reverend Prelate to the Bus Services (No.2) Bill that we have discussed in the House in recent weeks. That is a huge commitment to supporting the decarbonisation of the bus fleet. That Bill will take steps to accelerate the decarbonisation of the bus fleet and invest more than £37.5 million in the rollout of more zero-emission buses. We confirmed over £1 billion of investment in buses at the Budget to support improved services across the country, including in rural areas, as well as keeping fares affordable.

My Lords, is my noble friend aware that it is more than 40 years since Sir Peter Parker, the then chairman of British Rail, recommended a rolling programme of railway electrification in this country? It would have had, as he said at the time, the twin merits of keeping together the expertise of those carrying out electrification and reducing long-term cost. Does the Minister agree with me that Sir Peter Parker was right then and he would be right now?

I absolutely agree with my noble friend that electrification is an important part of the mix in decarbonising our transport network and achieving our net-zero goals. Electrification is indeed the most widespread method of decarbonising the railway. Some 39% of the railway network is electrified but 74% of passenger vehicle kilometres travelled are electric, so we are making progress. I cannot give my noble friend any further commitments, but we are looking beyond the trans-Pennine route upgrade to identify further opportunities for electrification across the network as part of the spending review.

My Lords, the noble Lord, Lord Hendy, very kindly joined me in congratulating the Harrogate Bus Company on its full electrification programme. I ask the Minister: what more can be done to actually encourage bus companies around the country—particularly in rural areas—to join and produce electric buses for those that use them?

If it is not jumping on the bus bandwagon, I would like to join in both the noble Lord’s and my noble friend Lord Hendy’s congratulations on Harrogate’s achievement. We have made some amazing progress when it comes to zero-emission buses: more than 50% of new buses registered last year were zero-emission—that is a record 1,600. I am very pleased to tell the House that more than 60% of buses procured via the ZEBRA process were procured and made by UK-based manufacturers. Zero-emission buses are not just good for decarbonising transport and providing better, more reliable bus services; they are good for growth in this country, which we need to see.

My Lords, the Minister made some excellent points earlier in response to the Opposition’s query about the price of electricity. It is linked to gas prices. Does the Minister know whether the Government have any plans to delink it so that we get the true price of renewable energy?

I am afraid that I am not aware of any particular plans—this strays a little outside my briefing. It is really important that we enable more green growth in transport to ensure that people have access to the sorts of transport levels that those of us who live in the capital enjoy. What we require and want, to paraphrase my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Transport, is brilliantly boring public transport, so that where you live does not determine what you can achieve in life.