East Coast Main Line Debate

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Department: Department for Transport

East Coast Main Line

Lord Haselhurst Excerpts
Wednesday 24th January 2024

(9 months, 2 weeks ago)

Lords Chamber
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Lord Davies of Gower Portrait Lord Davies of Gower (Con)
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The industry is currently close to finalising its response to the east coast main line major timetable change consultation that was undertaken in 2021. While it will not be possible to address every concern raised, I am confident that the industry proposal is an improvement over what was offered in consultation. The Rail Minister is in regular contact with Transport for the North, having met with the chair and chief executive in recent months.

Lord Haselhurst Portrait Lord Haselhurst (Con)
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My Lords, has the Minister been able to assess the amount of spare capacity on the rail system serving both north and east of a critical place in what we call the east of England? Does he agree that there needs to be a plan for the future—maybe one that cannot be implemented immediately but that we can set our minds on to ensure that it takes place without waiting another 10 or 20 years?