Railways
This page highlights some of the current parliamentary material available on railways. This includes select committee reports, briefing papers on current legislation and other subjects produced by the parliamentary research services, and the latest Early Day Motions put down by MPs.
Standard Notes
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| 14.02.2013 | Railways: EU policy |
| This note gives an overview of the development of a common European railways policy towards the long-aspired to goal of a single European Railway Area. | |
| 28.01.2013 | Railways: high speed rail (HS2) |
| This note takes forward the HS2 debate from January 2012. Information on the scheme prior to that point and the extensive debates about its value or otherwise can be found in HC Library Research Paper RP 11/75. | |
| 10.01.2013 | Railways: franchising policy |
| This is one of two notes on rail passenger franchising. This note sets out how franchising works and the franchising policy of successive governments. A second note, SN1343, sets out in more detail the terms of the various rail franchises in England and Wales and cross-border franchises with Scotland. It does not cover the ScotRail franchise in Scotland, which is devolved. | |
| 10.01.2013 | National rail usage and performance: Social Indicators page |
| In 2011/12, the number of journeys taken and distance travelled by passengers on franchised rail reached post WW2 highs. | |
| 10.01.2013 | Railways: passenger franchises |
| This is one of two notes on rail passenger franchising. This note sets out the terms of the various rail franchises in England and Wales and cross-border franchises with Scotland. It does not cover the ScotRail franchise in Scotland, which is devolved (see: SPICe briefing 08/38). A second note, SN6521, sets out in more detail how franchising works and the franchising policy of successive governments. |
Research Papers
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| 17.11.2011 | High Speed Two (HS2): the debate |
| HS2 is a £32 billion project to build a high speed rail line from London to Manchester and Leeds, via Birmingham to begin operation in 2026 and be completed in 2032. | |
| 02.03.2011 | Transport policy in 2011: a new direction? |
| This paper outlines the changes made to transport policy by the Conservative-Liberal Democrat Coalition Government and looks at some of the long term transport challenges the government is likely to face over the course of this Parliament. | |
| 19.03.2010 | Transport Policy in 2010: a rough guide |
| This paper gives an overview of transport policy in the UK in 2010. It examines a range of issues related to transport policy, including policy-makers, spending on and sources of funding for transport, the transport policy of the main political parties, and the challenges in formulating transport policy in 2010. | |
| 21.04.2008 | Transport in London |
| Transport in London. House of Commons Library Research Paper 08/36 | |
| 11.12.2007 | Channel Tunnel Rail Link (Supplementary Provisions) Bill: Committee Stage Report |
| The Channel Tunnel Rail Link (Supplementary Provisions) Bill. (Bill 4 of 2007-08). House of Commons Library Research Paper 07/89. |
Select Committee Reports
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| 29.11.2011 | Tunnel vision? Completing the European rail market. |
| European Union Select Committee (HL) report [Lords] | |
| 22.06.2011 | Department for Transport: the InterCity East Coast Passenger Rail Franchise. |
| Public Accounts Committee report [Commons] | |
| 03.05.2011 | Transport and the economy. |
| Government response. Transport Select Committee report [Commons] | |
| 26.04.2011 | Keeping the UK moving: the impact on transport of the winter weather in December 2010. |
| Transport Select Committee report [Commons] | |
| 15.02.2011 | Transport and the economy. |
| Transport Select Committee report [Commons] |
Early Day Motions
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| 25.01.2012 | GREAT WESTERN FRANCHISE |
| That this House notes that the Department for Transport has recently published the Great Western Franchise consultation document; is concerned that proposals in the document to encourage ... | |
| 25.01.2012 | CHURCHILL CLEANERS AND THE TYNE AND WEAR METRO |
| <p>That this House commends the work undertaken by the cleaners employed by Churchill Contract Services on theTyne andWear Metro; notes they are paid minimum wage rates for the vital ... | |
| 19.12.2011 | FUTURE FUNDING OF CROSSRAIL |
| That this House notes with alarm reports that the Secretary of State for Transport has refused to grant Transport for London's request to raise its debt ceilings in order to directly ... | |
| 19.12.2011 | PROCUREMENT OF ELECTRIC MULTIPLE UNIT RAIL VEHICLES FOR SOUTHERN RAILWAY |
| That this House welcomes the decision of the Secretary of State for Transport to bring forward the procurement of approximately 130 additional electric multiple unit rail vehicles for ... | |
| 15.12.2011 | BOMBARDIER |
| That this House welcomes the decision by the Secretary of State for Transport to explore the possible procurement of approximately 57 electrically-powered vehicles for insertion into ... |
