Skipton-Colne Railway Line

(asked on 23rd May 2019) - View Source

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Vere of Norbiton on 23 May (HL15714), why they did not answer the final part of the question about who is carrying out further studies into the possible reinstatement and reopening of the Colne–Skipton railway line; whether they will now provide that answer; why the Written Answer mentioned Andrew Stephenson MP; and what is his role in the studies referred to.


Answered by
Baroness Vere of Norbiton Portrait
Baroness Vere of Norbiton
Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
This question was answered on 5th June 2019

The Government has asked the CH2MC consortium comprising Jacobs, CPC, GHD, Poise and Gardiner & Theobald to provide technical advice and assurance on further feasibility work to assess the freight demand and commercial viability of this scheme. This advisory support was sourced from the current Specialist Technical and Commercial Advice for Rail (STAR) Framework.

The response to HL15714 simply reflects the fact that the Member for Pendle, Andrew Stephenson MP, has made strong representations to Ministers about the proposal to reinstate the Colne-Skipton rail link. In response the Secretary of State for Transport has visited Colne twice in the last 16 months.

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