(Llanelli) (Lab):...One such case is the
electrification of the Great Western main line.
In 2009, the former Labour Government announced a £1.1 billion
project to electrify the line to Swansea. However, in 2010, the
incoming Tory Government immediately axed the Cardiff to Swansea
leg. After some considerable campaigning by local MPs, a promise
was made in 2012 that the electrification would in fact continue
to Swansea. However, in 2017, the Government again broke their
promise and axed the Cardiff to Swansea leg. When this issue was
raised recently, the Secretary of State for Wales responded
glibly that there was no point in doing it because the nature of
the track meant that speeds would not be significantly
improved—what a pathetic answer. For the sake simply of combating
climate change, electrification makes sense. Indeed, it is
essential if we are to decarbonise our transport...
(Reading East) (Lab):...I draw
the Minister’s attention to a number of points in my own area. In
particular, I call for greater Government focus on
electrification of the Great Western line to the
west of Reading; at present the electric line stops at Newbury,
which is clearly not far enough to the west. Indeed, the far
south-west is not served by adequate rail infrastructure at this
time. The electric line also stops in Cardiff, Wales, and Welsh
colleagues have mentioned the serious flaws with that lack of
investment in their country...
(Redcar) (Con): ...Recent
announcements show our commitment to levelling up rail in
Teesside. From next year, Transpennine Express
services will be extended from Redcar Central to Saltburn,
something I have been campaigning on for well over two years. As
of next week, LNER will launch a direct service from
Middlesbrough to London Kings Cross—a fantastic step, but we need
more than just one a day. And the £l00 million redevelopment of
Darlington train station creates new platforms, a new station
building and the potential for more frequent services on the
local network.
The Tees Valley is also playing a huge role in the development of
the wider national network, and a key way we can strengthen this
role is by committing to using British-made steel from Teesside.
HS2 is one of this Government’s biggest infrastructure projects
but it has yet to commit to signing the UK steel charter. It is a
false economy to continue to bail out our steel industry and not
secure its pipeline through procurement rules in the UK. Using
UK-sourced steel in the construction of HS2 will help us to
secure the future of this vital national industry and support
over 1,000 jobs in Redcar alone.
This IRP delivers for the north, but there is more work to do.
The Minister will know that I am pushing for the east coast main
line to extend its services not just to Middlesbrough but to
Redcar to complement our new freeport. Along with the Chief
Secretary to the Treasury, I am supporting the return of
passenger services to east Cleveland on the Boulby potash line,
if we are able to achieve it. But as we rightly increase services
on the Redcar line, such as the Transpennine service
to Saltburn, we run the risk of cutting Redcar in half, virtually
blockading our level crossings in the town centre. There is no
doubt that resolving this roadblock to growth in Redcar will
require significant funding, and there is no obvious solution
right now, but I seek assurances from the Minister that Redcar
town will not be cut off as we grow our network, and that we will
seek to minimise the length of time the crossings are down. This
is a Government committed to levelling up and transforming
Teesside for the better. Thanks to this Government and our
Conservative team across our region, we have never been better
connected by rail, road and air. Long may it continue.
(Warrington South)
(Con):...While the Rail Minister is on the Front Bench, I would
like to raise with him the more immediate proposed changes to
train timetables, which will have significant implications for
services through Warrington Central station. Northern
and Transpennine have
been consulting on the proposed December 2022 timetables,
particularly on the CLC line. The plans will see a reduction in
services connecting Warrington Central to Manchester from four an
hour to three an hour at peak due to the removal of one of the
stopping services. Having accepted that more capacity is needed
between Warrington and Manchester, Northern is actually taking
away services. Will the Minister meet me to discuss how we can
make sure that those timetable alterations do not impact on
people in Warrington?
To read the whole debate, CLICK HERE
