Asked by: Olly Glover (Liberal Democrat - Didcot and Wantage)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much of the £500 million of funding announced for the Restoring Your Railway Fund in January 2020 has been allocated to (a) the Ideas Fund, (b) support advanced proposals for re-opening of railway lines, (c) support advanced proposals for re-opening of train stations and (d) support advanced proposals for new train stations.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Ideas Fund element of RYR supported the development of early-stage business cases. As of 4 July 2024, £21.24m has been spent. The allocated funds were £50.84m.
Advanced Proposals refer to proposed lines and stations that were already being considered by the Department for Transport prior to the launch of Restoring Your Railway. As of 4 July 2024, £307.36m has been spent. The allocated funds were £322.59m.
The New Stations Fund is intended to fund new stations, with eight new stations across England and Wales being delivered. As of 4 July 2024, £20.58m has been spent. The allocated funds were £32m.
Following the Chancellor’s 29 July announcement, the Restoring Your Railway programme will be brought to a close.
Asked by: Olly Glover (Liberal Democrat - Didcot and Wantage)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much and what proportion of the £500 million funding announced for the Restoring Your Railway Fund in January 2020 (a) has been fully allocated, (b) is still to be allocated and cannot be cancelled for contractual reasons and (c) remains unallocated.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Ideas Fund element of RYR supported the development of early-stage business cases. As of 4 July 2024, £21.24m has been spent. The allocated funds were £50.84m.
Advanced Proposals refer to proposed lines and stations that were already being considered by the Department for Transport prior to the launch of Restoring Your Railway. As of 4 July 2024, £307.36m has been spent. The allocated funds were £322.59m.
The New Stations Fund is intended to fund new stations, with eight new stations across England and Wales being delivered. As of 4 July 2024, £20.58m has been spent. The allocated funds were £32m.
Following the Chancellor’s 29 July announcement, the Restoring Your Railway programme will be brought to a close.
Asked by: Olly Glover (Liberal Democrat - Didcot and Wantage)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what support will be provided to schemes that have already received funding for early stage development under the Restoring Your Railway Fund.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Former Restoring Your Railway (RYR) projects are being considered as part of the Department’s capital spending portfolio review ahead of preparations for the Spending Review. As my Right Honourable Friend, the Chancellor has set out, decisions must be made based on the assessment of the spending inheritance from the previous Government
Asked by: Helen Morgan (Liberal Democrat - North Shropshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she made an assessment of the adequacy of each business case submitted to the Restoring Your Railway Fund before deciding to withdraw that funding.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Chancellor’s statement of 29 July 2024 confirmed that the Restoring Your Railway (RYR) programme will be brought to a close. Aside from RYR projects currently at the delivery stage or in construction, all remaining RYR-originated projects are now being considered as part of preparations for the upcoming Spending Review. This will include reviewing the business cases of these projects. Ministers have been clear that not all proposed transport projects will be able to proceed to delivery due to the challenging financial situation facing the Department.
Asked by: Sarah Dyke (Liberal Democrat - Glastonbury and Somerton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she plans to take to improve rail connections in Somerton and Langport in the context of the cancellation of the Restoring Your Railway Fund.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department is undertaking a capital spend portfolio review. The review will consider a number of projects under the former Restoring Your Railway programme.
Mentions:
1: Martin Wrigley (LD - Newton Abbot) I beg to move, That this House has considered railway services in the South West. - Speech Link
2: Rebecca Smith (Con - South West Devon) It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Dr Allin-Khan. - Speech Link
3: Adam Dance (LD - Yeovil) Many railway stations across the south-west remain inaccessible. - Speech Link
Mentions:
1: Charlie Maynard (LD - Witney) Just as our Victorian forebears did many decades ago, we will use those houses to fund the railway. - Speech Link
2: Clive Jones (LD - Wokingham) Railway connectivity is also fundamental to my constituency. - Speech Link
3: Charlie Maynard (LD - Witney) We must bring back that railway connection now. - Speech Link
Mentions:
1: Helen Morgan (LD - North Shropshire) That is why the news that the restoring your railway fund would be used to reopen the line between Gobowen - Speech Link
2: Helen Morgan (LD - North Shropshire) That clear value for money is in stark contrast to the three other restoring your railway schemes approved - Speech Link
3: Lilian Greenwood (Lab - Nottingham South) I completely understand that the announcement of the difficult decision to close the restoring your railway - Speech Link
Mentions:
1: Paul Kohler (LD - Wimbledon) to move,That this House has considered step-free access at stations.It is a pleasure to serve under your - Speech Link
2: Adam Dance (LD - Yeovil) Constituents of mine with disabilities have had accidents at railway stations in Yeovil because of the - Speech Link
3: Wendy Chamberlain (LD - North East Fife) Friend agree that what we are hoping to hear this morning is a commitment to that fund? - Speech Link
4: Kate Dearden (LAB - Halifax) It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mr Dowd. I begin by congratulating the hon. - Speech Link
Mentions:
1: Wendy Morton (Con - Aldridge-Brownhills) That this House has considered the future of Aldridge train station.It is a pleasure to serve under your - Speech Link
2: Clive Jones (LD - Wokingham) Lady agree that the Minister should bring Network Rail, Transport for London, Great Western Railway, - Speech Link
3: Wendy Morton (Con - Aldridge-Brownhills) Further funding was provided from the Restoring Your Railway programme. - Speech Link
4: Lilian Greenwood (Lab - Nottingham South) As I have set out, Aldridge railway station has not yet reached an outline business case. - Speech Link