Northern Powerhouse Rail

Shaun Davies Excerpts

Wednesday 14th January 2026 Commons Chamber

[Heidi Alexander]

I will ensure that the Rail Minister meets my hon. Friend and regional colleagues. In taking the right long-term strategic decision about providing more capacity on the west coast main line, I recognise that some people will be dealing with more uncertainty today. I want to work with him and HS2 to make sure that we treat those people with the respect they deserve and that we seek to minimise the disruption to people’s lives as far as possible.

[Shaun Davies (Telford) (Lab)]

Under the previous Conservative Government, Telford became one of the largest towns in the country without a direct link into London, we had a trainline into Birmingham and mid-Wales that was overcrowded, and private operators, who were falling over themselves to provide a solution, were being blocked by the Office of Road and Rail. I welcome today’s announcements, particularly around the links between Birmingham and Manchester, but will the Secretary of State or the Rail Minister meet me to explore all options to get Telford connected to the capital?

[Heidi Alexander]

I would be very happy to organise a meeting between my hon. Friend and the Rail Minister. He refers to some of the congestion challenges on the west coast main line with regard to train paths and putting on new services. That is why we have taken this long-term strategic decision today, recognising that we will have to address congestion and capacity challenges in that part of the rail network. As I say, I will be happy to organise that meeting for him.