Railways in Parliament

摘要

RICHMOND Park MP Sarah Olney asked about the potential merits of alternative fuel sourced trains for East West Rail (EWR). Transport Minister Chris Heaton-Harris said: "EWR will operate an interim fleet for the first services in Connection Stage 1 (Oxford to Milton Keynes) and Connection Stage 2 (Oxford to Bedford) to ensure the benefits of EWR for passengers can be realised as soon as possible. "For its long-term fleet, EWR is developing its procurement strategy that will outline how long the new fleet will be in operation. "EWR is taking into consideration the feedback received on what future customers of EWR want from their on-train experience at the non-statutory consultation. This will ensure value for money for the taxpayer and an efficient and effective operation for customers. "EWR will be a new, environmentally sustainable way to travel across the region. [It] is exploring innovative ways to become a net-zero carbon railway, consistent with the Government's legally-binding target of reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions across the UK economy by 2050.