Asked by: Jim McMahon (Labour (Co-op) - Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the proposed Metrolink tram extension in Greater Manchester; and if it plans to fund further (a) feasibility and (b) business case studies for new routes in and around Oldham.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The responsibility for local transport in Greater Manchester, including the operation, development and future enhancement of the Metrolink network is a matter for the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and the Mayor.
Between 2022-23 and 2026-27, we are providing £1.07bn of City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement funding to Greater Manchester to deliver transformational change to Greater Manchester’s transport infrastructure. Beyond that, we have confirmed a £2.5bn Transport for City Regions settlement for Greater Manchester from 2027-28 to 2031-32.
Asked by: Lisa Smart (Liberal Democrat - Hazel Grove)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has conducted feasibility studies on extending (a) Metrolink and (b) tram-train services to (i) towns and (ii) villages in Hazel Grove constituency.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
This Government is investing in transport improvements across our city regions, including Greater Manchester which is receiving over £1 billion through its City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement. In line with the Government’s commitment to devolution, decisions on where to invest this funding, including whether to conduct feasibility studies for extending Metrolink and tram-train services to towns and villages in the Hazel Grove constituency, rest with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, in partnership with its constituent local authorities.
Asked by: Lisa Smart (Liberal Democrat - Hazel Grove)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will take steps with (a) Stockport Council and (b) the Greater Manchester Combined Authority to provide Metrolink services to Stockport.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
This Government is investing in transport improvements across our city regions, including Greater Manchester which is receiving over £1 billion through its City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement. In line with the Government’s commitment to devolution, decisions on where to invest this funding, including whether to extend the Metrolink network, rest with Greater Manchester Combined Authority, in partnership with its constituent local authorities. The Greater Manchester CRSTS programme includes a number of schemes which will transform public transport and active travel in Stockport, including initiatives focused on bus priority.
Asked by: Michael Wheeler (Labour - Worsley and Eccles)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department holds information on the cost of two zones (1+2) Manchester Metrolink adult annual travelcards in 2010.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Light rail, including the Manchester Metrolink, is devolved in England where local authorities, such as Greater Manchester Combined Authority, own and are responsible for the operations and financial sustainability of their own systems. This includes setting the costs for their own ticketing and annual fares.
As such, the Department does not hold such records information on the cost of two zones (1+2) Manchester Metrolink adult annual travelcards in 2010.
The honourable member may wish to contact Transport for Greater Manchester who are better placed to provide such information.
Asked by: Tom Morrison (Liberal Democrat - Cheadle)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to fund a Metrolink extension to Stockport before the end of this Parliament.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government is investing in transport improvements across our city regions, including Greater Manchester which is receiving over £1 billion through its City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement. In line with the Government’s commitment to devolution, decisions on where to invest this funding, including whether to extend the Metrolink network, rest with Greater Manchester Combined Authority, in partnership with its constituent local authorities.
Asked by: Elsie Blundell (Labour - Heywood and Middleton North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Draft Greater Manchester Rapid Transit Strategy, published by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority on 10 July 2024, whether she is taking steps to support (a) the extension of the Metrolink to Middleton and (b) delivery of a tram-train link to Heywood.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government has committed to investing £5.7bn in the transport networks of eight city regions in England until 2027 through the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlements (CRSTS). This includes £1.07bn for Greater Manchester. CRSTS supports investments in public and sustainable transport across a range of modes including rail, bus, tram, and walking and cycling. The Greater Manchester CRSTS programme includes the development of a tram-train link to Heywood.
Asked by: Gavin Williamson (Conservative - Stone, Great Wyrley and Penkridge)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the estimated cost is of the proposed Manchester Metrolink infrastructure in the High Speed Rail (Crewe - Manchester) Bill.
Answered by Huw Merriman
The government is seeking to adapt the High Speed Rail (Crewe-Manchester) Bill to deliver Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) only, removing scope south of the Parish of Millington and Rostherne, which was included only for HS2. A motion to formalise the point of truncation will be brought to the House and a supplementary environmental statement will be produced.
As set out in the Network North Command paper, up to £12 billion in 2023 prices has been retained to deliver NPR scope between Manchester and the Parish of Millington and Rostherne. The funding has not been disagregated further.
Asked by: Navendu Mishra (Labour - Stockport)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has had discussions with the Mayor of Greater Manchester on the proposed Metrolink tram extension to Stockport.
Answered by Guy Opperman
The Mayor has met with Ministers on several occasions this year to discuss various transport issues.
The Department is in regular discussions with Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) regarding the region’s City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS) programme. CRSTS includes funding for transformative local transport projects which Mayoral Combined Authorities can use to deliver Mass Transit schemes based on their own local priorities.
Indicative funding allocations have been published for the second round of the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlements (CRSTS) which covers the period 2027/28 to 2031/32. Greater Manchester Combined Authority’s Settlement is worth £2.47 billion which includes a Network North uplift of £928 million. GMCA could choose to use this funding to deliver Mass Transit connectivity to Stockport.
Asked by: Navendu Mishra (Labour - Stockport)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential economic benefits of the extension of the Metrolink tram system into Stockport town centre.
Answered by Richard Holden - Shadow Secretary of State for Transport
Light rail is a devolved matter in England and it is for local authorities to develop proposals for potential new schemes, including cost estimates and appraisals of economic benefits.
Local authorities are best placed to assess place-based transport challenges and opportunities, and prioritise schemes accordingly while being accountable to the public.
The Department for Transport is providing £1.07 billion to Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) between 2022/23 and 2026/27 through Greater Manchester’s City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement. This includes funding for transformational local transport projects prioritised by GMCA.
Asked by: Navendu Mishra (Labour - Stockport)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent estimate his Department has made of the cost of the proposed extension of the Metrolink tram system into Stockport town centre.
Answered by Richard Holden - Shadow Secretary of State for Transport
Light rail is a devolved matter in England and it is for local authorities to develop proposals for potential new schemes, including cost estimates and appraisals of economic benefits.
Local authorities are best placed to assess place-based transport challenges and opportunities, and prioritise schemes accordingly while being accountable to the public.
The Department for Transport is providing £1.07 billion to Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) between 2022/23 and 2026/27 through Greater Manchester’s City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement. This includes funding for transformational local transport projects prioritised by GMCA.