Oral Answers to Questions

Lord Bellingham Excerpts

Thursday 24th October 2019 Commons Chamber

[Robert Courts (Witney) (Con)]

4. What steps he is taking to improve rail performance.

[Sir Henry Bellingham (North West Norfolk) (Con)]

6. What steps he is taking to improve rail performance.

[Sir David Evennett (Bexleyheath and Crayford) (Con)]

12. What steps he is taking to improve rail punctuality.

--- Later in debate ---

[Grant Shapps]

I congratulate my hon. Friend on his tireless campaigning for improvements on the Cotswold line. The line will benefit very soon from the Great Western Railway timetable change in December, which will offer shorter journey times and more frequent services to key locations. Moreover, services from North Cotswold via Oxford and London will be restructured to deliver more, and more consistent, services. So I feel that my hon. Friend’s campaign is making progress.

[Sir Henry Bellingham]

Will the Secretary of State give us an update on the investment in Ely north junction, which is pivotal to the introduction of a half-hourly service from London to King’s Lynn as well as improving services from Cambridge to Norwich? Will he work alongside Network Rail and local authorities to ensure that this vital scheme is delivered?

[Grant Shapps]

I certainly will. The project is currently being scoped, and I should be happy to work on it with my hon. Friend and Network Rail.