Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will take steps to ensure that (a) CrossCountry and (b) East Midlands Railway restore full rail services to (a) Congleton and (b) Alsager following recent network changes and disruption.

Train services were reduced across the country in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic with some services reintroduced since. We welcome that passengers are returning to the railway in increasing numbers this summer. As they do, it will be for operators, working together, to propose the appropriate level of station calls and train services that reflect the changed patterns of demand and reduced revenue following the pandemic, and also provides a robust and punctual timetable.