Railways: North of England

(asked on 24th February 2020) - View Source

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the (1) scope, and (2) timescale, of the assessment to be conducted by the National Infrastructure Commission on integrated rail services for the north of England; and whether that assessment will include consideration of HS2 phase 2A.


Answered by
Baroness Vere of Norbiton Portrait
Baroness Vere of Norbiton
Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
This question was answered on 9th March 2020

As set out in the Integrated Rail Plan for the Midlands and the North terms of reference, the National Infrastructure Commission will be looking at rail needs for the Midlands and North. As part of their assessment, the evidence base on what can be provided by Northern Powerhouse Rail, HS2 Phase 2b, Midlands Rail Hub and other major Network Rail projects will be examined.

The Secretary of State for Transport intends to publish the Integrated Rail Plan, which will be informed by the NIC assessment, by the end of the year.

Lessons learnt from Phase 1 and Phase 2a will be incorporated into the plan, but it will not reconsider Phase 2a.

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