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Restoring Your Railway Fund
24 January 2023
Lead MP
Kevin Foster
Torbay
Con
Responding Minister
Huw Merriman
Tags
EconomyTransportCulture, Media & SportBenefits & Welfare
Word Count: 11201
Other Contributors: 12
At a Glance
Kevin Foster raised concerns about restoring your railway fund in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
Mr Foster asks the Government to confirm its commitment to reversing Beeching-era cuts as outlined in the 2019 manifesto. He also seeks support for MPs and communities where local councils are resistant to railway restoration projects, and requests an assessment of the full impact these projects have on reconnecting communities.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Mr Foster is concerned about the impact of railway closures during the Beeching era, which left many communities disconnected from rail networks. He highlights specific examples such as the closure of lines to Princetown in Devon in 1958 and Yealmpton in 1947 before Dr Beeching's report. He emphasises that the reopening of railways can revitalise towns and provide opportunities for economic growth, citing successes like the Okehampton line which saw more than double the demand forecast.
Jack Brereton
Con
Stoke-on-Trent Central
The restoring your railway fund has provoked interest in north Staffordshire, where poor transport connectivity severely hinders employment and quality of life. Jack Brereton highlighted that a third of households in Stoke-on-Trent have no access to a car and public transport is non-existent or unreliable due to congestion. He noted the area's historical loss of rail services and proposed the reopening of Meir station, which could transform local communities by enhancing employment opportunities and reducing pollution. Intervenes to ask that projects such as Meir station are considered favourably for their potential to level up communities.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Commends the hon. Gentleman for securing this debate and emphasizes that it is crucial to invest in public transport to encourage people to use alternatives to cars and support environmental goals. He asserts that any reduction in railway lines is counterproductive.
Jonathan Gullis
Lab
Stoke-on-Trent North
Mr Gullis supports Mr Foster's initiative, highlighting that railway closures left many communities with no train services. He references the success of the Scottish Borders railway and emphasises the importance of providing new choices and opportunities for residents. Mr Gullis highlighted the £40 million transforming cities fund and £31.7 million for local bus services in Stoke-on-Trent, reducing day fares to £3.50. He discussed a feasibility study for restoring the Stoke to Leek line, noting its potential benefits such as improved education access, employment opportunities, tourism, road decongestion, and air quality improvements.
Neil Hudson
Con
Epping Forest
Congratulates his friend on leading this debate and highlights the importance of reopening lines such as Penrith to Keswick, Gilsland station, and extending the Borders railway through Longtown into Carlisle. He believes these projects can enhance economic opportunities, education access, and empower rural communities. Programmes such as reopening the Penrith to Keswick line, Gilsland station and extending the Borders railway through Longtown to Carlisle should be considered. The Government should take a two-pronged approach by restoring these links and holding Avanti West Coast accountable for poor service on the west coast main line.
Paul Howell
Ind
Stockton South
Ferryhill station in his constituency was removed in 1964, and its closure is symptomatic of the need for regeneration and redevelopment. He argues that any consideration of railway bids should take into account the impact on local communities beyond just mathematical calculations.
Peter Gibson
Con
Darlington
Representing Darlington, the birthplace of railways, Peter Gibson discussed numerous railway-related issues in his constituency and highlighted the importance of restoring railway lines to unlock connectivity and economic opportunities. He mentioned £139 million Government investment for Bank Top station and efforts to secure funding for projects such as the Leamside line, Durham Dales line, and Consett to Tyne line. Gibson also addressed problems at North Road station and the need for better public transport in areas with low car ownership.
Richard Foord
Lib Dem
Honiton and Sidmouth
Richard Foord praised the Government's restoring your railway scheme for awarding £5 million to reopen Cullompton railway station. He highlighted that the reopening could reduce unemployment benefits costs by connecting Exeter's unemployed population with job opportunities in Cullompton and improve air quality through reduced traffic congestion.
Selaine Saxby
Con
North Devon
Selaine Saxby discussed the challenges of rural transport in North Devon, highlighting the loss of the train line between Bideford and Barnstaple. She mentioned the growth in housing and resulting pressure on roads, advocating for a restored rail connection to alleviate congestion and connect communities with opportunities. The potential economic benefit was estimated at £43 billion. Saxby suggested exploring alternative routes that would directly link Barnstaple to Bideford.
In an intervention, Siobhan Baillie echoed Richard Foord's enthusiasm for railway restoration projects and noted the value of early investment understanding from Great Western Railway.
Suzanne Webb
Con
Stourbridge
She highlighted the potential of the Stourbridge Dasher, a transformative project that would restore passenger services on a four-mile freight-only branch line and link it to the West Midlands Metro tramline extension. The initiative is supported by 87% of surveyed constituents and could bring significant economic benefits to deprived areas in the Black Country. Intervened briefly to make a comment that did not relate directly to the main debate topic.
Tan Dhesi
Lab
Slough
The hon. Member highlights the lack of long-term strategy and under-delivery in rail funding, criticising the Government's execution of the 'restoring your railway' scheme as chaotic and failing to address major issues affecting UK rail.
Virginia Crosbie
Con
Ynys Môn
Ms Crosbie highlighted the historical significance of the disused Gaerwen to Amlwch railway line in Wales, which closed under the Beeching cuts but remains largely intact today. She supported a feasibility study funded by the restoring your railway ideas fund and noted that re-establishing the line would cost £144 million for heavy rail or £93 million for light rail, while an active travel path could be deliverable at a lower cost. The Minister has set a deadline of April 2023 for making a decision on the project's future.
Government Response
Huw Merriman
Government Response
It is a pleasure to serve under the chairship of Mrs Cummins. I congratulate my hon. Friend on securing this debate, recognising his passionate interest in the future of railways. The £500 million restoring your railway fund was announced in January 2020 with the aim of levelling up and reconnecting communities through reopening lines and stations across England and Wales. Over 250,000 new journeys have been recorded on the Dartmoor line in its first year since reopening, boosting local businesses, college numbers and tourism. The Northumberland line received £34 million to upgrade track for passenger services, likely to start in 2024, improving access to jobs, leisure, learning, particularly in one of the most deprived areas nationally with poor public transport options into Newcastle.
The minister highlighted that there are eight schemes being delivered and 13 progressing past the strategic outline business case towards their full business case. The restoring your railway fund is heavily over-subscribed with nearly 200 bids received to the ideas fund element of the programme alone, alongside other proposals at advanced stages. The minister emphasised the importance of projects showing a good cost-benefit ratio and delivering on regeneration and decarbonisation.
The process will prioritise the most viable projects for the next stage due to financial constraints and inflation impacts. Feedback has been given to unsuccessful bids to help develop future cases. Specific updates were provided for various local projects, including Ferryhill project receiving further funding, Wellington and Cullompton progressing towards a full business case, and Stourbridge and Round Oak bid awaiting review of the strategic outline business case. The Stoke-Leek line is an ideas fund 3 project under review, while Meir station has been funded to full business case. Darlington to Weardale project is also in ideas fund 3 with its strategic outline business case being reviewed.
The minister reaffirmed commitment to the restoring your railway fund scheme and thanked hon. Members for their passionate pitches.
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About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.