Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Closed Rail Lines: Restoration

Thursday 3 February 2022 · 4 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Damien Moore inquired about restoring the Burscough Curves link, to which the Minister agreed it would be a great idea.
  • Sara Britcliffe requested an update on the Skipton to Colne railway line; the Secretary of State pledged to provide an update soon regarding the SELRAP project.
  • Allan Dorans questioned whether slow progress in reconnecting communities to the national rail network was hindering growth, but the Minister disagreed, emphasizing the current Government's efforts to reverse closures from previous decades.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Damien Moore Con
Transport
Context

The MP is advocating for the restoration of a rail line connecting Southport with Preston and up to Glasgow, arguing it should be a priority for demonstrating regional equality and connectivity.

Question

Does my right hon. Friend agree that restoring the Burscough Curves link would connect all regions of the United Kingdom?

Answer from Grant Shapps

I absolutely agree with my hon. Friend—and, it seems, yourself, Mr Speaker—that it would be a great idea. My hon. Friend is a fantastic champion for the people of Southport. I know he applied unsuccessfully for the first round of restoring your railway fund money, but I am very committed to working with him on that.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer acknowledges the idea and expresses commitment without providing specific timeline or funding details.

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Q2 Sara Britcliffe
Transport
Context

The MP is interested in updates on a specific railway project, the Rawtenstall to Manchester line, which would significantly benefit her constituents in Haslingden. She also queries the status of another project involving Skipton and Colne.

Question

Will the Secretary of State provide an update on the Skipton to Colne railway line?

Answer from Grant Shapps

I certainly can. Regarding the Skipton-East Lancashire Rail Action Partnership—or SELRAP—and the rail link between Skipton and Colne, I appreciate my hon. Friend's unstinting support for the scheme and will set out our position on the projects in the rail enhancement portfolio very soon.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer acknowledges the query but does not provide a specific update or timeline.

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Q3 Allan Dorans
Transport
Context

The MP celebrates the reopening of a rail line in Scotland and questions why similar progress has not been made in England, suggesting that glacial progress is hindering growth.

Question

Does he agree that glacial progress on reconnecting communities in England to the national rail network is hindering growth?

Answer from Grant Shapps

No, I do not agree. It has taken 50 years for a UK Government to come along and reopen the lines that were closed under Beeching and successive Governments. We are the ones reversing that and paying to reverse it, and Britain is proud of that.

Answered
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Q4 Barry Sheerman Lab
Transport
Context

The MP suggests that the Government's record on reopening old lines is lacking compared to its commitment, especially in Yorkshire. He references a significant railway anniversary and asks for reassessment of the situation.

Question

If we are serious about marking the anniversary and bringing the old lines back into use, will he look again at Yorkshire?

Answer from Grant Shapps

Huddersfield massively benefits from the £96 billion plan—the biggest plan that any Government have ever announced on railway funding. By the way, it is bigger than the plan that President Biden just announced for railways in his package, even though the United States has a population that is five times bigger than ours.

Not addressed: The answer avoids addressing Yorkshire specifically and instead focuses on national funding initiatives.

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