Thank you for contacting me about the Greenpeace ‘Transform Transport’ Campaign.
You may be aware that the Government consulted on bringing forward to 2035 the date at which sales of new petrol, diesel and hybrid cars and vans end, or even earlier still, should a faster transition prove feasible. This is to help the UK hit its ambitious, legally binding target to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
I recognise that encouraging people to opt for public transport rather than cars, as well as the increased use of greener, more sustainable modes of travel, such as cycling, will be vital in helping to achieve this.
I welcome the increased interest in cycling, particularly in light of the coronavirus pandemic. As well as being greener, cycling helps to reduce pressure on public transport and the road network, which has become increasingly important with social distancing advice.
I am therefore very pleased that the Government has committed to invest an additional £2 billion in cycling and walking over the next five years and that Ministers have published a bold new action plan to boost active travel.
The first stage of this £2 billion investment will be a £250 million emergency active travel fund. The Fund will deliver new pop-up cycle lanes with protected space for cycling, cycle and bus-only corridors, safer junctions and wider pavements. I am taking a particular interest in what central funding may be available to help the completion of the Teign Estuary Trail cycle route in the constituency.
I welcome that the Government are looking at ways to innovate our buses and enable fleets across the UK to become greener. I support the electrification of buses, as well as the use of less polluting fuels in the interim like E10 biodiesel.
In September last year the Government committed £50 million to create our country's first all-electric bus town. Moreover, in February this year, funding was announced to support the purchase of at least 4,000 new zero emission buses, as part of the £5 billion of new funding to boost bus and cycling links.
On rail travel, I am pleased that 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. We are benefiting from this investment locally via the much-needed strengthening of the sea wall at Dawlish.
In recent years key hubs such as Birmingham New Street and Manchester Victoria have been rebuilt, while commuter routes have and will continue to expand through projects like the Thameslink programme, the East-West Rail vision and the Great North Rail Project.
Connecting smaller towns is also important. I am pleased that the Government has committed £500 million to start reopening lines closed following the Beeching report, reconnecting smaller towns, regenerating local economies and improving accessibility to jobs, homes and education. I look forward with anticipation to the outcome of bids put in to reopen lines locally.
Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.
