Commons Sense

House of Commons · Westminster Hall

Oswestry to Gobowen Railway Line

11 September 2024 · 1 other contributor · 3,537 words

Opened by Helen Morgan Lib Dem North Shropshire

Responding minister: Lilian Greenwood

EconomyTransportNHS

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Helen Morgan raised concerns about oswestry to gobowen railway line in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.

Key points

  • The Oswestry railway line, closed in 1966 due to the Beeching cuts, is vital for economic growth and social mobility.
  • Residents rely on cars or inconvenient bus services, limiting job opportunities and access to healthcare and cultural activities.
  • The government is urged to fund the project to reopen the line, as it is forecasted to be cash-positive and align with economic, education, and environmental goals.

Key requests to Government

The government should urgently reconsider funding the project to reopen the Oswestry to Gobowen railway line, as it is forecasted to be cash-positive over its appraisal period. This decision aligns with the government's objectives of growing the economy, improving education and healthcare access, and promoting environmental sustainability.

How the debate unfolded

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

Opened the debate

Helen Morgan Lib Dem North Shropshire

The Oswestry railway line, which was a victim of the Beeching cuts in 1966, is crucial for economic growth and social mobility. Poor public transport options force residents to rely on cars or inconvenient bus services, limiting job opportunities, hindering access to healthcare facilities like Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt orthopaedic hospital, and reducing cultural and leisure activities available to them. The lack of reliable public transport also impacts local businesses' ability to attract workers from wider areas. Economic studies show a strong business case for reopening the line, which would bring significant value for money and transform the area's potential.

Other contributors (1)
  • Olly Glover Lib Dem Didcot and Wantage

    Does my hon. Friend agree that many railway reopenings in the last 20 years have seen significantly higher use than expected? They include the Ebbw Vale line, which achieved year four ridership by the end of year one, Larkhall in Scotland, where demand was 26% higher than forecast, and the Borders railway, which saw a doubling of demand in the first month, compared with plan, and extra coaches and car parking needed.

Government Response

Lilian Greenwood

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Ms Vaz. I congratulate the hon. Member for North Shropshire on securing today's debate and appreciate her efforts in campaigning for better public transport connections between Oswestry and Gobowen. My Department acknowledges the importance of good connectivity for economic growth, social mobility, and tackling regional inequality, particularly concerning access to healthcare, jobs, and education. However, due to the £22 billion financial deficit left by the previous government, we have had to address unaffordable transport projects committed to without proper funding. The decision to close the Restoring Your Railway programme was taken with regret but necessity. Individual railway projects will still be considered in the upcoming spending review and wider spending decisions. In response to the Oswestry to Gobowen project, while the previous government announced its progression under Network North, there was a clear gap between promised funds and available resources. The Department is reviewing its capital spend portfolio to provide clearer recommendations for current and future schemes. Local leaders are encouraged to pursue affordable and reliable transport projects that meet their constituents' needs. We recognise the challenges faced by bus service provision in many areas and welcome the hon. Member's support for our pledge to deliver better services through franchising, municipal companies, and reforming funding for local priorities. The Buses Bill will be introduced to undertake vital reforms to the sector, with stakeholder engagement a key priority.

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