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Road and Rail Projects 2025-07-08
08 July 2025
Lead MP
The Secretary of State for Transport
Debate Type
Ministerial Statement
Tags
TransportClimate
Other Contributors: 45
At a Glance
The Secretary of State for Transport raised concerns about road and rail projects 2025-07-08 in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Government Statement
Today, the Government is announcing over £725 billion investment in infrastructure over a decade, with a focus on rail and road projects across the UK. The statement includes commitments to raise living standards by supporting 42,000 new jobs and slashing journey times; build 39,000 homes through better transport links; and accelerate towards net zero emissions while making roads safer and less congested. Specific investments include £92 billion for phase 2 of the spending review, focusing on upgrades in the trans-Pennine route, the East West railway line to Cambridge, significant local transport projects across the Midlands and North, as well as billions for new TfL trains. Additionally, five strategic road enhancement projects will be funded including M54-M6 link, A38 expansion, A66 Pennines dual carriageway, Newark bypass, Simister Island interchange, Middlewich eastern bypass, A382 from Drumbridges to Newton Abbot, and 28 further schemes. Rail improvements include new stations in Cullompton and Wellington, reopening Haxby station, upgrading Tyne and Wear metro, and the Portishead line reopening connecting an additional 50,000 people.
Gareth Bacon
Con
Orpington
Question
The MP questions whether the announced projects are genuinely new or were previously planned by the previous Conservative Government and merely delayed or not funded.
Minister reply
While acknowledging past work, the Minister emphasises that these announcements represent a significant commitment to deliver on promises for economic growth, better connectivity, and improved living standards through transformative investments in infrastructure.
Ruth Cadbury
Lab
Brentford and Isleworth
Question
Can I assume that each road project has been subject to robust appraisal and business case development? When will we see work being done to address the chronic capacity crisis on the west coast main line?
Minister reply
I can assure my hon. Friend that the schemes have been subject to a very robust business case appraisal, offering value for money. We are aware of capacity constraints between Birmingham and Manchester and are reviewing options for addressing those issues.
Gideon Amos
LD
Taunton and Wellington
Question
Will the Secretary of State confirm that projects like Wellington and Cullompton stations will be fully funded and completed on time? When will detailed plans for Northern Powerhouse Rail be published?
Minister reply
I can assure the hon. Gentleman that I will do everything in my power to ensure future transport projects are delivered on time and on budget. We will provide further details about Northern Powerhouse Rail in coming weeks.
Laurence Turner
Lab
Birmingham Northfield
Question
Will the Secretary of State help keep up momentum around the midlands rail project, particularly the upgrade of Kings Norton station?
Minister reply
I am delighted that my hon. Friend’s constituents have such a strong advocate for public transport and investment in the rail network. The midlands rail hub can have transformative impacts.
Rebecca Smith
Con
South West Devon
Question
Why was TavyRail scheme given a red light despite significant investment in Plymouth?
Minister reply
We are keeping a number of schemes under review and will set out a pipeline of future infrastructure schemes that we believe are worthy, but which have not been funded in this spending review.
Leigh Ingham
Lab
Stafford
Question
When does the Secretary of State anticipate work on the northbound M54-M6 junction upgrade starting?
Minister reply
Unfortunately, no specific timeline was provided in the statement for when the work will start.
Edward Leigh
Constituency: Gainsborough
Gainsborough
Question
For 30 long and weary years, my hon. Friend the Member for Brigg and Immingham and I have campaigned for a through-train from Grimsby to London. Network Rail has made numerous promises but now says it will cost £25 million due to infrastructure issues. Will the Secretary of State get us our train?
Minister reply
The digital signalling on the east coast main line will positively impact services, but no commitment can be given at this time regarding the specific service requested.
Rachel Hopkins
Lab
Luton South and South Bedfordshire
Question
Transport is essential for our economy. With a record £92 billion investment in rail and road, the Secretary of State should ensure Luton station's poor state does not hinder public transport use. Will she meet to discuss improvements?
Minister reply
The accessibility improvements at Luton station are happening, and the Minister would be very happy to meet her as requested.
Wendy Morton
Con
Aldridge-Brownhills
Question
With the announcement of midlands rail hub, can she confirm full funding for the whole project including chords and delivery timeline?
Minister reply
More detail on midlands rail hub will be set out in due course. The Minister observes that when Wendy Morton was a Rail Minister, she was unable to deliver the station which she now advocates.
Derek Twigg
Lab
Widnes and Halewood
Question
In discussions with the Mayors of Liverpool city region and Greater Manchester regarding proposed Liverpool-Manchester railway line, will Heidi Alexander consider Ditton in Widnes for a potential Liverpool Gateway station?
Minister reply
The Minister is aware of the proposed Liverpool Gateway station in Twigg's constituency and hopes to be able to say more on Northern Powerhouse Rail in the coming weeks.
Tim Farron
LD
Westmorland and Lonsdale
Question
Residents of Eamont Bridge have been campaigning for A66 upgrade, now that funding is committed, can Heidi Alexander give an updated timescale?
Minister reply
The delivery timetable will be set out when the next roads investment strategy is published by March.
Navendu Mishra
Lab
Stockport
Question
Manchester’s Metrolink tram network extension into Stockport town centre and £2.5 billion for public transport in Greater Manchester was announced a few days ago, will Heidi Alexander restore proper passenger services at Reddish South train station?
Minister reply
The Minister encourages Mishra to keep working with the Mayor of Greater Manchester and Transport for Greater Manchester to build the case for a full service.
Jeremy Wright
Con
Kenilworth and Southam
Question
HS2 passes through his constituency but delivers no benefit, will Heidi Alexander consider giving priority to places suffering in this way for other types of transport infrastructure?
Minister reply
When HS2 trains move on to new lines, regional services can be improved on the existing line.
Amanda Hack
Lab
North West Leicestershire
Question
Funding for A511 corridor in east midlands marks a turning point for communities with housing growth but no infrastructure investment, will Heidi Alexander assure her that every part of the constituency will see economic benefits?
Minister reply
Local roads have a key role to play in driving growth and allowing people access to new opportunities.
Torbay
Question
Will Heidi Alexander commit to stage 5 of Network Rail’s resilience programme, including the railway station at Edginswell?
Minister reply
The final phase of work will be kept under review as part of the pipeline of future funding based on ongoing cliff monitoring and drainage works.
Olivia Bailey
Lab
Reading West and Mid Berkshire
Question
Commitment was made to review safety of dangerous slip roads at East Ilsley and Beedon on A34, does Heidi Alexander agree that road safety must be at the heart of plans?
Minister reply
This Government will produce a new road safety strategy for the first time in years.
Andrew Murrison
Con
South West Wiltshire
Question
Will Heidi Alexander assure him that she is actively looking at proposals to bypass Westbury, including Yarnbrook?
Minister reply
The Minister will look into the details of the Westbury scheme and write back to Dr Andrew Murrison.
Catherine Fookes
Lab
Monmouthshire
Question
With £445 million for Wales, does Heidi Alexander agree that Magor and Undy walkway station would be an excellent candidate for starting the five Burns stations?
Minister reply
The Minister is looking forward to working with the Wales Rail Board to determine appropriate priorities.
Catherine Fookes
Con
Monmouthshire
Question
Spiralling costs mean that Wales is owed at least £4 billion from HS2, yet we are set to receive just £445 million over a ten-year period, with nothing west of Cardiff. Will the Secretary of State say if there will be any additional money for this vital project?
Minister reply
The Government are seeing a step change in funding for Welsh rail infrastructure, but currently, no additional money is set aside specifically for St Clears station.
Imran Hussain
Lab
Bradford East
Question
Can the Secretary of State give Bradford a specific time when a decision on Northern Powerhouse Rail will be announced and confirm that Bradford will be included in the trans-Pennine route?
Minister reply
The decision on Northern Powerhouse Rail will be set out in the coming weeks, acknowledging the case for a new station in Bradford.
Mark Francois
Con
Rayleigh and Wickford
Question
Can the Secretary of State confirm which institutions will finance the £10 billion lower Thames crossing project?
Minister reply
The Government are exploring private finance options for the lower Thames crossing, working to secure a suitable partner but acknowledging previous delays under the previous government.
Steve Race
Lab
Exeter
Question
Does the Secretary of State agree that investing in public transport infrastructure and accessibility will help cities like Exeter grow their economies sustainably?
Minister reply
Accessibility at railway stations is key for disabled individuals, young parents, and those travelling with luggage. The campaign for a new lift at Exeter St Thomas station will continue to be supported.
Gavin Williamson
Con
Stone
Question
Can the Secretary of State assure constituents that the M54-M6 link road project in his constituency will move quickly?
Minister reply
Spades in the ground are a priority, and the assurance is given to ensure swift progress on this vital piece of infrastructure.
Jas Athwal
Lab
Ilford South
Question
Can Broadmead Road bridge restoration be included in plans to upgrade roads and railways across the country?
Minister reply
A structures fund will be established through a call for evidence, designed to provide funding for local authorities dealing with failing assets like Broadmead Road bridge.
Tewkesbury
Question
Will funding for improvements at Ashchurch for Tewkesbury be incorporated into the midlands rail hub project?
Minister reply
Details will be provided through a written response to the hon. Gentleman.
Chris Bloore
Lab
Redditch
Question
Would the Secretary of State visit Redditch to see the midlands rail hub project and get spades in the ground as quickly as possible?
Minister reply
A visit to Redditch will be arranged to discuss the transformative project for Moor Street station in Birmingham.
Madam Deputy Speaker
Ms Nusrat Ghani
Question
Does the Secretary of State have an open invitation to visit Crowborough and Wadhurst stations?
Minister reply
The Secretary of State has an open invitation to visit Crowborough and Wadhurst stations.
Martin Vickers
Con
Brigg and Immingham
Question
Will the scheme be extended to include trains running from King's Cross through Market Rasen, Grimsby, and Cleethorpes?
Minister reply
The schemes prioritised today deliver improvements most quickly. Further cases will be considered based on their transformative benefits.
Rachael Maskell
Lab/Co-op
York Central
Question
Will the Secretary of State ensure that as we develop our network, real access for all disabled people and others is provided?
Minister reply
The Rail Minister and relevant organisations will be contacted with further details from my hon. Friend to address accessibility issues at York station.
Sarah Dyke
LD
Glastonbury and Somerton
Question
What steps will the Secretary of State take to introduce train links for communities like Somerton and Langport?
Minister reply
An integrated national transport strategy will be published later this year, addressing issues related to bus routes and station integration.
Philip Dunne
Con
Chesham and Amersham
Question
I welcome the announcements about the A46 bypass, given that the A46 goes through my constituency, and about the midlands rail hub connecting Nottingham to Birmingham. As chair of the all-party parliamentary group for the east midlands, however, I must mention the electrification of the midland main line. This feels like a missed opportunity. What steps are being taken to make sure that the project is not missed, but continues to be debated and discussed by the Department?
Minister reply
The costs of the scheme were substantial, and we had to prioritise other schemes that deliver more tangible benefits to passengers sooner. However, we will keep the electrification scheme under review as part of our pipeline of projects for future funding.
Bernard Jenkin
Con
Harwich and North Essex
Question
How can I possibly welcome the Secretary of State’s statement when, by her own admission, she has cancelled the A12 widening scheme and said nothing about the dualling of the A120 between Braintree and Marks Tey? How does she intend Braintree, Colchester and Tendring to deliver the massive new housing targets imposed by the Government with no new road or rail infrastructure at all?
Minister reply
The simple truth is that we inherited a series of commitments that could not be afforded, so we had to take the difficult decision not to progress some projects. National Highways will now work to bring those projects to a close.
Jacob Collier
Lab
Burton and Uttoxeter
Question
I welcome the improvements to the A38 and the midlands rail hub, which will mean 300 extra trains through Burton every week. The Secretary of State will know that I have been campaigning for the A50/A500 corridor, which is essential for local people and businesses; the Roads Minister will remember the time when she visited my constituency and got stuck in traffic on the A50. What progress might we hear on this vital corridor upgrade?
Minister reply
I can assure my hon. Friend that we will look carefully at the A50 scheme as part of our planning for the next road investment strategy.
Jim Allister
TUV
North Antrim
Question
We in Northern Ireland had a salutary experience recently with the cancellation of public transport projects due to cost overruns and poor financial management. What steps are being taken to ensure that similar mistakes are not repeated, particularly regarding large infrastructure projects such as HS2?
Minister reply
The Department is aware of the importance of efficient use of funds in infrastructure projects and will continue to evaluate and adjust plans to minimise risks.
Dave Robertson
Lab
Lichfield
Question
Today’s announcement is great news for people across Lichfield, Burntwood and the villages. To the north, we have improvements on the A38, making access to the University of Derby easier; to the west, we have improvements to the M4 and M6 link road, which will be great for access to the i54, and to Telford and Wales. To the south, we have the midlands rail hub, which will be excellent for the cross-city line. All we need is for Reform-controlled Staffordshire county council to the east to sort out Chetwynd bridge; then we will have the entire compass covered.
Minister reply
My hon. Friend is clearly at the heart of all the action today. Having accepted an invitation to visit Redditch, how can I refuse a visit to Lichfield? I would be happy to talk to him more about the challenges of and opportunities for midlands transport when I visit.
Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe
Question
The Secretary of State said that she was reconnecting Britain, and then proceeded to mention Wales only once. These plans will not give us the boost that we need in Wales. We are the poorest nation in the UK. Investing in infrastructure delivers economic growth and boosts productivity—that is true—so why has she given up on Wales? Will we ever see the full electrification of the north and south main lines?
Minister reply
The Department acknowledges the importance of transport investment for economic development, including in Wales.
Andrew Cooper
Lab
Mid Cheshire
Question
The fight for the Middlewich eastern bypass started more than 40 years ago, and after all these years of false starts, dashed hopes, and frustrated residents, I could not be prouder that this Labour Government are finally delivering on that project. How does my hon. Friend see the Middlewich eastern bypass contributing to long-term economic growth?
Minister reply
I am really pleased to announce today the green light for the Middlewich bypass. The new 2.5 km of single carriageway bypass will make a big difference, unlocking swifter, easier journeys and more routes to employment and opportunities.
Newton Abbot
Question
I thank the Secretary of State for greenlighting work on the A382 into Newton Abbot. That will be a massive improvement when it is completed. However, I am disappointed to hear that Dawlish is not on the list and will be put back.
Minister reply
We have already heavily invested in securing the cliffs and making the coastline more resilient in Dawlish. We are keeping the final phase of work under review and will determine the next course of action once further cliff monitoring and drainage works have taken place.
Calder Valley
Question
The previous Government dodged vital infrastructure decisions for 14 years, so I am glad that this Government are stepping up with projects such as the east coast main line upgrade. Will the Secretary of State assure my constituents that this will not be the last of the projects and that the Calder Valley line upgrade is still very much on the table?
Minister reply
There is a number of worthy rail schemes which, although funding may not have been allocated during this spending review period, are important to the travelling public. My hon. Friend makes a strong case for the scheme that will benefit his constituents and I can assure him that when we have any updates on future funding availability I will come back and update the House.
Robin Swann
UUP
South Antrim
Question
The Northern Ireland Minister for Infrastructure is working with the Department for Transport on recommendations in the all-island strategic rail review. One of those recommendations is the opening of the Antrim to Lisburn line, which includes the reopening of three stations and a new hall at Belfast international airport. Can the Secretary State provide any further update on what support the Government can provide?
Minister reply
Although I have not personally had direct engagement, it may be that the Rail Minister or my officials have engaged with the Department of Infrastructure in Northern Ireland. I would be happy to write back to the hon. Gentleman to update him on any collaboration taking place.
Helen Morgan
LD
North Shropshire
Question
The A483 that runs between Welshpool and Oswestry is a key economic artery for the Marches region but has been seriously neglected. Will the Secretary of State meet me to see how we can progress this critical improvement?
Minister reply
I would be very happy to ask my hon. Friend the Minister for the Future of Roads to take that meeting as she will be closer to some of the detail of the work National Highways is doing.
Connor Naismith
Lab
Crewe and Nantwich
Question
Today’s announcements on improvements in the performance on the west coast main line come during the week where, in many constituencies including mine, we celebrated Crewe Day. Can the Secretary of State outline how this funding will be used to ensure that freight growth targets can be met and new routes like the midlands north-west rail link are considered?
Minister reply
As we establish Great British Railways, we will place a duty on the new organisation to increase the amount of freight transported on the railways. We need to get lorries off the road and move more goods on the rail network, which is a strategic objective for my Department.
Jonathan Davies
Lab
Mid Derbyshire
Question
The expansion of the A38 in Derby will unlock economic growth around that stretch of road. How much biodiversity net gain will be delivered through this project and can she ensure it has no effect on the UNESCO world heritage status of the Derwent valley?
Minister reply
All schemes have gone through a thorough environmental assessment, and I expect them to contribute to our public transport objectives and improve walking and cycling environments.
Penrith and Solway
Question
Like many Cumbrians, I am delighted that the Government have agreed funding for the A66 trans-Pennine project. Can the Secretary of State set out what assessment she has made of the benefits to my constituents of this project?
Minister reply
The announcement includes significant investment in road schemes that will improve transport infrastructure and economic opportunities for many regions, including those in Cumbria.
Bernard Jenkin
Con
Harwich and North Essex
Question
In my 33 years in this House it has always been the practice that a statement of this nature would be made alongside a White Paper, which would be available in the Vote Office to Members as soon as the Secretary of State sits down. There is no White Paper in the Vote Office to explain the detail of the Government’s decision making.
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