Make trains cheaper than planes to tackle climate change

A number of constituents have contacted me with a template email about making trains cheaper than planes to tackle climate change.

 

Protecting our environment is one of my key local priorities, and so I wanted to share my views with you.

 

I am reassured that the Government is committed to improving public transport links and encouraging the public to increase its use of public transport as part of its commitment to reaching net zero emissions.

 

The Government has launched ambitious strategies to improve railways across our country – making them easier to use, more comfortable and better value for money, in order to encourage more people onto public transport. The Government is committed to delivering the biggest investment in the railways since Victorian times, with investment between 2019 and 2024 expected to be £47.9 billion. 

 

I appreciate concerns regarding fare prices. Train fare revenue is crucial to funding day-to-day railway operations and rail investment, which benefits passengers. For instance, rail operators have been investing in more trains, better stations and faster journeys. Any rise in rail fares helps to allow this to be maintained.

 

As constituents may be aware, the Government has frozen increases in regulated rail fares in real terms for the past seven years. As I understand it, the Government has not yet made a decision on ticket price increases.

 

I am reassured that the Department for Transport is currently considering a range of options as part of a "rail recovery" package aimed at getting passengers back on the network. The Government has recently proposed the biggest change to the railways in 25 years, bringing the network under single national leadership.

 

A new public body, Great British Railways, will own the infrastructure, receive the fare revenue, run and plan the network and set most fares and timetables. Reforms will also include a simplified ticketing system.

 

Locally, I have campaigned for rail improvements in recent years, with £1.4bn of investment allocated for the regions mainline. Improvements to the rail network will benefit us all, with faster transport times, opportunities for investment in our city and the potential for more jobs.

 

Regarding points on air travel, as part of a recent consultation on aviation tax, the Government has outlined its initial view that the effective rate of Air Passenger Duty (APD) on domestic flights should be reduced in order to support Union and regional connectivity. The number of international distance bands should be increased in order to align APD more closely with the UK's ambitious environmental objectives. The consultation sought evidence on the potential impacts of these proposals, including on regional air routes, and engaged with airports in all parts of the UK during the process. The Government is reviewing responses to the consultation.

 

Those who fly frequently already pay more under the APD system. As I understand it, an additional frequent flier levy would be complex to administer, difficult to implement and could prove unfair for those with an essential need to fly frequently.

 

A Jet Zero Council has also been launched, which is a partnership which brings together leaders from the aviation sector, environmental groups and Government who regularly meet in committees and sub committees, with the aim of delivering net zero emission transatlantic flights in the future.

 

As constituents may be aware, the Government has published its Net Zero Strategy: Build Back Greener, which sets out policies and proposals for decarbonising all sectors of the UK economy to meet the net zero target by 2050. As part of this, one aim is to  become a world-leader in zero emission flight and kick-starting the commercialisation of the UK sustainable aviation fuel so people can fly, and connect without guilt. The ambition is to enable delivery of 10% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) by 2030 and will be supporting UK industry with £180 million funding for the development of SAF plants.

 

I hope this is reassuring that the Government is continuing to put measures in place to improve our railways and rail fares and to achieve net zero emissions in the aviation industry.