Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has plans to include Aldridge station in the proposed Wrexham to London Euston open access line.

Wrexham, Shropshire & Midlands Railway, the applicant behind the Wrexham to Euston proposal, is an aspirant open access operator and as such has no direct contractual arrangement or direct financial support from Government. Therefore, although the Department recently supported this application, it has no remit over Wrexham, Shopshire & Midlands Railway and their operations, including proposed station stops, as this would be a commercial decision to be taken directly by the operator.