Oral Answers to Questions

Sara Britcliffe Excerpts

Thursday 3rd February 2022 Commons Chamber

[Damien Moore (Southport) (Con)]

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

[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.