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Flights and trains between the UK and the European Union after Brexit look increasingly in jeopardy in the event of no withdrawal deal being agreed, the Department for Transport (DfT) has said.
Lucy Chadwick, director general at the DfT, told the Public Accounts Committee that agreements on air and rail services between Britain and the EU comprise “an area of growing concern to us”.
At present UK airlines have unlimited rights to fly anywhere in the EU due to the “open skies ” arrangement.
After Brexit, there is currently no legislation for British carriers to fly to the European Union, nor for foreign airlines to serve the UK – and five months before the leaving date, 29 March 2019, negotiations over flight rights have yet to start.
Ms Chadwick admitted that talks with individual countries or Brussels about route access had not begun, saying: “Where we are actually in our discussions around air services agreements: we have not been able to start those bilateral discussions or multilateral discussions yet with either member states or indeed with the Commission.”
For Eurostar trains, Ms Chadwick said: “Although we have started rail bilateral discussions with our counterparts in France, Belgium and Holland, it’s at a very early stage.”
“Our confidence at the moment in the programme [of readiness for Brexit] is somewhat decreasing because of the dependence on those bilaterals and given where we are,” said Ms Chadwick.
“That increasingly will become a cause for concern for us.”
Ms Chadwick was appearing before MPs alongside the permanent secretary at the DfT, Bernadette Kelly.
They told the committee that three issues were currently rated as “red,” indicating very serious concerns about deliverability: aviation, rail links and driving licences.
A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on BrexitShow all 65 1 /65A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit An estimated 700,000 people marched through London to demand a final say on the withdrawal agreement
Angela Christofilou/The Independent
A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Red smoke from a canister hangs in the air as around 100,000 demonstrators march through London during a People's Vote anti-brexit demonstration savings banners and placards Anti-Brexit People's Vote March for the Future in London
Rex
A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit
Angela Christofilou/The Independent
A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Mayor of London Sadiq Khan takes part in the People's Vote March for the Future in London, a march and rally in support of a second EU referendum.
PA
A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say campaigners take part in the peoples vote march for the future in London 20/10/2018 Protesters wearing final Say shirts and holding placards
Angela Christofilou
A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit
Angela Christofilou/The Independent
A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit
Angela Christofilou/The Independent
A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit
Angela Christofilou/The Independent
A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit MP Chuka Umunna (left) and MP Vince Cable (right) as MP Anna Soubry (centre) addresses Anti-Brexit campaigners at a rally after the People's Vote March for the Future in London, a march and rally in support of a second EU referendum.
PA
A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit
Angela Christofilou/The Independent
A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit
Angela Christofilou/The Independent
A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit A People’s Vote march attendee calls for a Final Say
Angela Christofilou
A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Demonstrators with banners 'We're with EU' during the People's Vote March for the Future in London, Britain, 20 October 2018. Reports state that the 'March for the Future' is to be led by a column of young people and call for a People’s Vote on the Brexit deal. After marching through central London, there will be a rally on stage in Parliament Square, including speeches from Mayor of London Sadiq Khan.
EPA
A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit
Angela Christofilou/The Independent
A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit
Angela Christofilou/The Independent
A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit
Angela Christofilou/The Independent
A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Protesters at London’s march for the future in October
The Independent
A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Editor of The Independent Christian Broughton speaks to demonstrators in Parliament Sqaure after they take part in a march calling for a People's Vote on the final Brexit deal, in central London on October 20, 2018. - Britons dreading life outside Europe gathered from all corners of the UK to London on Saturday to try to stop their country's looming breakup with the EU.
AFP/Getty
A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit A poster at the March for the Future in October
The Independent
A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Anti-Brexit campaigners take part in the People's Vote March for the Future in London, a march and rally in support of a second EU referendum.
PA
A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit
Angela Christofilou/The Independent
A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say campaigners take part in the peoples vote march for the future in London 20/10/2018
Angela Christofilou
A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit
Angela Christofilou/The Independent
A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit
Angela Christofilou/The Independent
A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Anti-Brexit campaigners take part in the People's Vote March for the Future in London, a march and rally in support of a second EU referendum.
PA
A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit
Angela Christofilou/The Independent
A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit
Angela Christofilou/The Independent
A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit
Angela Christofilou/The Independent
A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit
Angela Christofilou/The Independent
A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit
Angela Christofilou/The Independent
A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit
Angela Christofilou/The Independent
A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit
Angela Christofilou/The Independent
A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Demonstrators hold placards as they take part in a march calling for a People's Vote on the final Brexit deal, in central London on October 20, 2018. - Britons dreading life outside Europe gathered from all corners of the UK to London on Saturday to try to stop their country's looming breakup with the EU.
AFP/Getty
A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit
Angela Christofilou/The Independent
A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit
Angela Christofilou/The Independent
A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit
Angela Christofilou/The Independent
A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit
Angela Christofilou/The Independent
A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit
Angela Christofilou/The Independent
A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit
Angela Christofilou
A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit
Angela Christofilou/The Independent
A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit
Angela Christofilou/The Independent
A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit
Angela Christofilou/The Independent
A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit
Angela Christofilou/The Independent
A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit
Angela Christofilou/The Independent
A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit
Angela Christofilou/The Independent
A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit
Angela Christofilou/The Independent
A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit
Angela Christofilou/The Independent
A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit
Angela Christofilou/The Independent
A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit
Angela Christofilou/The Independent
A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit
Angela Christofilou/The Independent
A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit
Angela Christofilou
A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say campaigners take part in the peoples vote march for the future in London 20/10/2018 campaigner wrapped in EU flag
Angela Christofilou
A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit
Angela Christofilou/The Independent
A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit
Angela Christofilou/The Independent
A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say campaigners take part in the peoples vote march for the future in London 20/10/2018
Angela Christofilou
A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Demonstrators pass Trafalgar Square as they take part in a march calling for a People's Vote on the final Brexit deal, in central London on October 20, 2018. - Britons dreading life outside Europe gathered from all corners of the UK to London on Saturday to try to stop their country's looming breakup with the EU.
AFP/Getty
A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Demonstrators wave Union and European flags and hold up placards as they pass Trafalgar Square, taking part in a march calling for a People's Vote on the final Brexit deal, in central London on October 20, 2018. - Britons dreading life outside Europe gathered from all corners of the UK to London on Saturday to try to stop their country's looming breakup with the EU.
AFP/Getty
A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Demonstrators hold placards as they take part in a march calling for a People's Vote on the final Brexit deal, in central London on October 20, 2018. - Britons dreading life outside Europe gathered from all corners of the UK to London on Saturday to try to stop their country's looming breakup with the EU.
AFP/Getty
A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit A demonstrator holds a message during a march calling for a People's Vote on the final Brexit deal, in central London on October 20, 2018. - Britons dreading life outside Europe gathered from all corners of the UK to London on Saturday to try to stop their country's looming breakup with the EU.
AFP/Getty
A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Anti-Brexit campaigners take part in the People's Vote March for the Future in London, a march and rally in support of a second EU referendum.
PA
A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Demonstrators take part in the 'People's Vote March for the Future,' in central London, Britain, 20 October 2018. Reports state that the 'March for the Future' is to be led by a column of young people and call for a People’s Vote on the Brexit deal. After marching through central London, there will be a rally on stage in Parliament Square, including speeches from Mayor of London Sadiq Khan
EPA
A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit A protester brandishes an Independent t-shirt during the Brexit March
Angela Christofilou
A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Anti-Brexit campaigners take part in the People's Vote March for the Future in London, a march and rally in support of a second EU referendum
PA
A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Tens of thousands of people take part in People's Vote March for the Future in central London. The march organised by the People's Vote campaign is led by young people calling for a People's Vote on the Brexit deal
Rex
A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Anti-Brexit campaigners take part in the People's Vote March for the Future in London, a march and rally in support of a second EU referendum
PA
In its technical notices about what would happen in the event of a no-deal Brexit, the DfT says that to drive or rent a car in the EU after 29 March 2019, “you may need to obtain an International Driving Permit (IDP)”.
The permit – which has two types, depending on the destination country, costs £5.50. The government has promised: “From 1 February 2019, you will be able to apply for both 1949 and 1968 types of IDP at 2,500 Post Offices across the UK.”
But so far no agreement has been signed with the Post Office.
Bernadette Kelly was also questioned about the Crossrail fiasco , in which the £15.4bn project for a fast east-west link beneath London was abruptly postponed barely three months before it was due to open.
She told MPs that Transport for London would be expected to cope with the extra costs and reduced revenue caused by the delay.
“London is the beneficial of Crossrail , and London will need to find a way of bearing the costs of this delay,” she said.
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