Oral Answers to Questions

Elliot Colburn Excerpts

Thursday 17th September 2020 Commons Chamber

[Chris Heaton-Harris]

I happily agree with my hon. Friend; he is absolutely right. The canal towpath network across the country, a huge chunk of which runs through my constituency, is a wonderful place for walking and cycling. He is right to identify that we have committed a £2 billion package to active travel. We have started to get money out the door, and I very much hope that we will see schemes such as the one he mentions benefit from it so that we can all enjoy the countryside—and, indeed, other cycle routes through our cities and towns—more in the future.

[Elliot Colburn (Carshalton and Wallington) (Con)]

What steps his Department is taking to improve rail infrastructure.

[The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Andrew Stephenson)]

The Government continue to invest record amounts in our rail infrastructure, with £47.9 billion to be spent over the next five years.

[Elliot Colburn]

Getting more trains into Carshalton and Wallington stations is reliant on completing the Croydon bottleneck project to unblock congestion on the Brighton main line at Selhurst. Network Rail will finish its consultation on the project on Sunday. What assurances can the Minister give me that the Government will back the project and get more trains into Carshalton and Wallington stations?

[Andrew Stephenson]

I pay tribute to my hon. Friend for continuing to champion transport improvements in his constituency. My Department is currently considering an outline business case to progress the Croydon bottleneck scheme through our investment pipeline.