Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will review the decision to close Network Rail's sleeper factory at Washwood Heath, Birmingham; for what reason the proposed new HS2 hub on that site cannot be accommodated elsewhere; and if he will make a statement.

There is a Cemex sleeper production facility currently located at Washwood Heath. This site was identified as the preferred location for the Phase One Rolling Stock Maintenance Depot in 2009 and 2012/2013 following assessments of potential sites against the depot’s functional requirements and technical and environmental criteria. The site location was approved by Parliament through The Phase One Hybrid Bill.

There is a proposal for a new facility in Bescot which is being developed by Network Rail to produce railway sleepers necessary for them to maintain, renew, and enhance our rail network in addition to the other Network Rail sleeper facilities.