Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to paragraph 71 of the policy paper entitled Network North, published on 4 October 2023, whether the Wellington-Cullompton line has entered the Rail Network Enhancements Pipeline; what the project’s Project Acceleration in a Controlled Environment stage is; when approval was granted to enter that stage; and whether entry to the next stage will be granted.

The Wellington and Cullompton project has entered the Rail Network Enhancements Pipeline and is currently working towards completion of Engineering Stage 4. The project will deliver two new stations at Wellington and Cullompton, on the existing Bristol to Exeter line. Contractors have been engaged and work to produce a Full Business Case is expected to be completed in 2024.