Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Grant Shapps and Sara Britcliffe

Thursday 3rd February 2022 Commons Chamber

[Sara Britcliffe (Hyndburn) (Con)]

13. What steps he is taking to restore previously closed rail lines.

[The Secretary of State for Transport (Grant Shapps)]

We are committed to reversing the Beeching cuts and reopening railways through our £500 million restoring your railway fund. I was pleased to reopen the first such line—the Dartmoor line—in November 2021.

--- Later in debate ---

[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 to link up his community. I will arrange to meet him. I spoke to him about it this week and I am arranging to meet the Rail Minister on the subject.

[Sara Britcliffe]

We are moving forward with the Rawtenstall to Manchester line, which would significantly benefit my constituents in Haslingden, but will the Secretary of State provide the House with an update on the Skipton to Colne railway line?

[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.

Integrated Rail Plan: North and Midlands

Debate between Grant Shapps and Sara Britcliffe

Thursday 18th November 2021 Commons Chamber

[Grant Shapps]

Yes.

[Sara Britcliffe (Hyndburn) (Con)]

Levelling up across the north means improving our transport and connectivity links for communities such as mine in Hyndburn and Haslingden. As the Secretary of State will know, I have been lobbying about the reopening of the Skipton-to-Colne railway line and the freight terminal, but it is still the case that a 25-mile journey by rail and road can take up to an hour by rail and easily two and a half hours by road at the peak of the rush hour. Can the Secretary of State explain how what has been announced will achieve levelling up in communities like mine, and assure me that there is still a focus on smaller projects?