Written question asked by Richard Holden (Conservative) on Friday, 5 June 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 9 June 2026. It was answered by Keir Mather (Labour) on Monday, 15 June 2026 on behalf of the Department for Transport.
Railway Stations: Nitrogen Dioxide
- Question
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To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the total projected cost to the public purse is for Network Rail to develop and deliver Air Quality Improvement Plans (AQIPs) across all managed stations with nitrogen dioxide levels of 40µg/m³ or more by 2030; and what budget has been allocated for structural or engineering interventions, such as air purifying technologies, at those stations.
- Answer
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The development and delivery of Air Quality Improvement Plans (AQIPs) across Network Rail’s managed stations cannot be assigned a single total projected cost to 2030. This is because the measures required vary significantly by location and over time. Stations with nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) levels only slightly above the 40 µg/m³ improvement indicator may require relatively low-cost actions, such as anti-idling campaigns or driver briefings. In contrast, stations with higher levels may require more complex long-term solutions, including ventilation upgrades or air cleaning technologies.
In addition, the number of stations requiring AQIPs is not fixed. Some stations may improve and therefore no longer require an AQIP, while others may be newly identified where exceedances occur. This variability makes it difficult to accurately forecast overall programme costs.
No central or national budget has been allocated specifically for AQIP delivery or associated engineering measures. While individual AQIPs may include estimated costs for proposed actions, funding approval and delivery are managed at a local level.
Secondary information
- Type
- Written question
- Reference
- 7215
- Session
- 2026-27
- Related items
- Subjects
- Air pollution Finance Railway stations Nitrogen dioxide
- Contains statistics
- Yes
- Link
- View this Written question on www.parliament.uk
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Librarians' tools
- Timestamp
- 2026-06-29 15:22:34 +0100
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- http://data.parliament.uk/writtenparliamentaryquestion/commons/2026-27/7215
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