Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an assessment of the (a) adequacy of the condition of the Mid Cheshire Railway line and (b) potential merits of increasing the speed of trains on the line.
The Department has provided £44.1billion to Network Rail over the next Control Period (2024-29) for the operations and maintenance renewals budget. They will use this funding to monitor asset conditions and renewal opportunities including Weaver Viaduct. It is for Network Rail rather than the Department to make an assessment. The Department is supporting local partners on options to enhance the route including line speeds; these proposals are not funded as they are in early development and are subject to normal business case approvals.