Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, for what reason Chester Station's access to the Rail Network Enhancement Pipeline is delayed.

The Department indicated in its feedback last year on Cheshire West and Chester Council’s initial Strategic Outline Business Case (SOBC) for potential rail enhancements at Chester Station the further work that was required on the business case before a scheme could be considered for inclusion and progression within the Government’s Rail Network Enhancement Pipeline (RNEP), in accordance with the published guidance. The Council is continuing to work in collaboration with Transport for Wales, Network Rail, the Cheshire and Warrington LEP, other regional partners and my officials to assemble the additional evidence needed to finalise the SOBC.

There is no confirmed timescale for regional partners’ completion of that work, and therefore for any submission or decision on inclusion of a scheme in the RNEP, or for forecast delivery of any works proposed subject to subsequent funding decisions. As with any business case, I would expect any submission to set out proposals for consideration on the role of regional and local partners in the funding and management of the proposed scheme.