Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what information his Department holds on which towns in England with populations of 30,000 or more do not have a railway station.

Latest analysis of Office for National Statistics 2019 Population Estimates Data by Network Rail suggests that there are currently eight towns in England, with a population of 30,000 or more, without an operational railway station and not situated within 5km of one. These are Washington, Swadlincote, Blyth, Aldridge, Coalville, Wisbech, Rushden and Witney.

As part of the levelling-up agenda, and a manifesto commitment, in January 2020 the government launched the Restoring Your Railway (RYR) Fund to reopen lines and stations, including ones closed following the 1963 Reshaping of British Railways (Beeching) Report. The aim is to reconnect smaller communities, regenerate local economies and improve access to jobs, homes and education. The Dartmoor line (between Okehampton and Exeter) marked the first reopening in November 2021, opening two years ahead of schedule, and Marsh Barton station opened in July 2023.

Of the eight towns listed above, seven (Washington, Swadlincote, Blyth, Aldridge, Coalville, Wisbech and Witney) have been considered by the RYR programme and four (Swadlincote, Blyth, Aldridge and Coalville) have been considered within the scope of RYR-funded projects, including the Northumberland Line, Ivanhoe Line and Aldridge Line Upgrade.