Commons Sense

House of Commons · Adjournment Debate

Midge Hall Railway Station

17 April 2024 · 1 other contributor

Opened by Katherine Fletcher Con South Ribble

Transport

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Katherine Fletcher raised concerns about midge hall railway station in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.

Key points

  • Ms Fletcher expressed concern over the closure of Midge Hall station and advocated for a feasibility study to reopen it.
  • The Minister acknowledged Ms Fletcher's contribution and highlighted Lancashire County Council's allocation of 494 million for rail improvements.
  • The Minister emphasised the role of local authorities in prioritising projects like Midge Hall station and Burscough curves.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Katherine Fletcher Con South Ribble

Ms Fletcher expressed her concern over the closure of Midge Hall station during the Beeching cuts. She highlighted that trains currently pass through the station without stopping for passengers due to a single-track line and token exchange procedure, causing inconvenience to local residents and businesses. She noted significant development around the station, including a trading estate and new housing projects, which will increase population in the area. Ms Fletcher advocated for the feasibility study of reopening Midge Hall station and improving the Preston-to-Liverpool train service by removing administrative barriers at Ormskirk and implementing battery-powered trains to facilitate direct connections. She also mentioned the importance of re-establishing Burscough curves for better connectivity.

Other contributors (1)
  • Damien Moore Con Southport

    Mr Moore commended Ms Fletcher’s efforts and highlighted the economic benefits of improved rail connectivity between Liverpool and Preston. He emphasised the importance of regional connectivity, especially in educational and commercial sectors, and praised the Department for Transport's recent funding allocations to improve local transport infrastructure.

Government Response

Huw Merriman

The Minister acknowledged Ms Fletcher’s and Mr Moore’s contributions and outlined plans under Network North, a £36 billion programme for transport investment across the UK. He highlighted that Lancashire County Council has been allocated £494 million from the local transport fund to improve rail services and infrastructure. The Minister emphasised the role of local authorities in prioritising projects such as the Midge Hall station and Burscough curves, encouraging MPs like Ms Fletcher and Mr Moore to collaborate closely with councils. He also discussed ongoing efforts to decarbonize the railway network through battery-powered trains and hydrogen technology, mentioning recent trials and future plans for their implementation. The Minister assured both MPs that he would support them in advocating for these rail projects.

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