Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Rail Infrastructure: North of England

Thursday 20 April 2023 · 5 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 4 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Department is delivering projects like the TransPennine route upgrade, which includes 76 miles of rail line and 23 stations.
  • The Minister assures a speedy response to the business case for a new train station in Aldridge.
  • The restoring your railway programme is delivering on eight lines and has 32 lines at other stages.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Dan Jarvis Lab Barnsley North
Transport
Context

The Northern Transport Acceleration Council was established to accelerate rail upgrades but has not met since May 2022, and no progress on high-speed rail services between Sheffield and Leeds.

Question

What steps his Department is taking to help deliver major rail infrastructure improvements in the north of England. The NTAC has failed to meet, there are no more trains on the Hope Valley line, and we are not closer to high-speed rail services between Sheffield and Leeds. Does the Minister think that the appropriate governance arrangements are in place?

Answer from Huw Merriman

The delivery speaks for itself with projects like the TransPennine route upgrade, which includes 76 miles of rail line and 23 stations. There was a grand total of nine miles of electrification under the last Labour Government in 13 years. We are also delivering HS2 all the way to Manchester.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific governance arrangements not addressed

How: Delivery Speaks For Itself

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Q2 Dan Jarvis Lab Barnsley North
Transport
Context

The opening of a train station in Aldridge would provide connectivity to the north, and a business case is being worked on.

Question

When it comes to rail infrastructure improvements, the opening of a train station in Aldridge would be a huge boost. We are currently working on a business case. As soon as that comes forward, can we expect a speedy response from the Minister?

Answer from Huw Merriman

My right hon. Friend has met me to champion the cause of the new station at Aldridge. I can give her an assurance that as soon as that business case comes through, we will make a very fast decision.

Answered
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Q3 Wendy Morton Con Aldridge-Brownhills
Transport
Context

A bid has been submitted to reconnect Oswestry with Gobowen using an existing closed railway line.

Question

I am proud to support an application to reconnect Oswestry with Gobowen in my constituency, using an existing railway line that has been closed for a number of years. We submitted an excellent bid in September. Can the Minister update me about when we will hear the outcome and ideally whether he will be supporting the bid?

Answer from Huw Merriman

The restoring your railway programme is delivering on eight lines, with another 32 lines at other stages. I am happy to write to her about the specific project but in my view the programme has been a great success.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific timeline and support for bid not provided

How: Programme Success

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Q4 Helen Morgan Lib Dem North Shropshire
Transport
Context

Projects such as improvements at Accrington rail station, a levelling-up fund bid focused on east Lancashire, and the bus service improvement plan are ongoing. Other schemes like Access for All and Rishton station work are needed.

Question

We have some vital projects going on across the north and in Hyndburn and Haslingden, such as Accrington rail improvements; Lancaster County Council's levelling-up fund bid; and the bus service improvement plan. But other schemes are needed: Access for All at Oswaldtwistle and Church; work at Rishton station; reopening of the Rawtenstall-to-Manchester line. Will the Minister meet me to discuss these projects? Will he visit Hyndburn and Haslingden?

Answer from Huw Merriman

I should be delighted to visit. Since 2006, Access for All has delivered step-free access to 220 stations. The programme has been a great success, with the mentioned stations within the portfolio of the 300 stations we are assessing.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Visiting specifically not confirmed; only general commitment to visit

How: Programme Success

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Q5 Sara Britcliffe
Transport
Context

The Department set up the Northern Transport Acceleration Council to accelerate rail upgrades but has not met since May 2022, and no progress on high-speed rail services between Sheffield and Leeds.

Question

What steps his Department is taking to help deliver major rail infrastructure improvements in the north of England. The NTAC has failed to meet, there are no more trains on the Hope Valley line, and we are not closer to high-speed rail services between Sheffield and Leeds. Does the Minister think that the appropriate governance arrangements are in place?

Answer from Huw Merriman

We remain committed to delivering the integrated rail plan, which includes HS2 and the Northern Powerhouse Rail core network. We are also delivering on the multibillion-pound TransPennine route upgrade between Manchester, Huddersfield, Leeds and York.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific governance arrangements not addressed

How: Commitment To Deliver

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