Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to improve rail connectivity between (a) Congleton and Crewe, (b) Congleton and Macclesfield, (c) Congleton and Chester and (d) Congleton and Liverpool.

As part of planned improvements to Northern Rail services, there will be a more frequent, hourly Sunday stopping service from Stoke to Manchester via Macclesfield. In the meantime, the Department is happy to work with the local authority and the train operating companies to identify any opportunities to improve rail connectivity for the Congleton area.