Rail Investment

John Leech Excerpts

Monday 16th July 2012 Commons Chamber

[Justine Greening]

The improvements will take place over the 2014 to 2019 period, as the project is developed and rolled out. I have worked hard to ensure that Sheffield has a good transport package from the Department. Another thing that I managed to get sorted out, which the right hon. Gentleman’s Government never did, was £3 million for a footpath bridge over the railway line, which will mean that his community and others around that area can get into Sheffield from the other side of the railway track. I believe that that, alongside the midland main line scheme and the capacity changes, means that by 2019 he will see a much better service.

[Mr John Leech (Manchester, Withington) (LD)]

The Labour chairman of Transport for Greater Manchester said of today’s announcement:

“Taken together, these investments will change the face of rail services in the North of England in a manner that has not been seen for several generations.

The Northern Hub and electrification programmes will be a catalyst to help drive economic growth across the north”.

I could not agree more. Does that not prove the commitment of the coalition Government to rebalancing the economy and bringing investment and jobs to the north of England?

[Justine Greening]

Absolutely it does. It is this Government who have brought forward the investment plans for the northern hub and been prepared to finance them and it is this Government who have gone on with High Speed 2, which is critical in the longer term for improving connectivity across the whole country. It will particularly benefit the great northern cities, one of which the hon. Gentleman represents.