Asked by: Jo Platt (Labour (Co-op) - Leigh)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 7 November 2017 to Question 110552, what discussions his Department has had with Transport for the North on connecting Leigh to the planned Northern Powerhouse Rail.
Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The vision for Northern Powerhouse Rail is being developed in line with the 2015 Northern Transport Strategy developed jointly by the Government and Transport for the North. The Department has regular discussions with Transport for the North on Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) and we look forward to receiving their proposals next year.
We understand that Transport for the North favours using HS2 as a core part of the NPR between Manchester and Liverpool, thus integrating HS2 and NPR and maximising use of the HS2 investment. Based on the HS2 route, that would preclude NPR services being routed via Leigh.
However, as part of the development of HS2, Leigh’s closest station, Wigan North Western, will be served by HS2 trains following completion of HS2 Phase One in 2026, and by 2033 will be served by HS2 trains from London, Birmingham, Preston and Scotland. This will benefit Leigh residents.
In addition the Government has provided Greater Manchester Combined Authority with £2.5m to develop HS2 Growth Strategies, which include plans for improving connectivity across Greater Manchester to the planned HS2 stations. Greater Manchester Combined Authority and Transport for Greater Manchester are advancing their wider plans for connectivity across the city region through their Greater Manchester 2040 Transport Strategy.
Asked by: Jo Platt (Labour (Co-op) - Leigh)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 7 November 2017 to Question 110675, whether the announced £300 million of infrastructure spending related to Northern Powerhouse Rail will be devolved directly to Transport for the North.
Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The £300m of funding announced by my RHF the Chancellor of the Exchequer is the direct costs of making passive provision on HS2 for junctions which would allow HS2 infrastructure to accommodate potential future Northern Powerhouse Rail and Midlands Connect services.
We anticipate that this passive provision would be a matter for Parliamentary approval through the relevant HS2 Hybrid Bill in due course. Responsibility for the design and construction of HS2 lies with HS2 Ltd who will be funded to undertake this work.
Asked by: Jo Platt (Labour (Co-op) - Leigh)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the planned £300 million infrastructure spending to connect Northern towns and cities with High Speed 2 will be allocated for strategic planning purposes in addition to certification purposes.
Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
I refer the Hon Member to the answer I gave the Hon Member for Leigh on the 7 November 2017 (UIN 110675).
Asked by: Jo Platt (Labour (Co-op) - Leigh)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what criteria his Department has given to Transport for the North for the location of the (a) line and (b) stations on the Northern Powerhouse Rail.
Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The March 2015 document “The Northern Powerhouse: One Agenda, One Economy, One North” was jointly produced by Government, Northern city regions and local enterprise partnerships. That outlined a shared vision for rail services across the North designed to radically improve journey times and frequencies between major cities to support a single economy. The document also noted that projects in the northern transport strategy will need to offer good value for taxpayer’s money.
This provides the backdrop for development of the northern powerhouse rail network. Work since 2015 has identified that as well as city centre to city centre services, there could be cases where serving locations between the cities could enhance the business case for investment and so be beneficial.
It is for Transport for the North to come forward with proposals that respond to the vision and have a positive business case. We look forward to receiving those proposals next year.
Asked by: Jo Platt (Labour (Co-op) - Leigh)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with Transport for Greater Manchester on rail and High Speed 2 connectivity in Leigh.
Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
Greater Manchester Combined Authority and Transport for Greater Manchester are advancing their wider plans for connectivity across the city region through their Greater Manchester 2040 Transport Strategy.
The government has provided Greater Manchester with £2,500,000 to develop their HS2 Growth Strategies, which will look at the transport requirements for making the most of HS2. The government will continue to work with Greater Manchester to help deliver these plans.
Asked by: Jo Platt (Labour (Co-op) - Leigh)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the eligibility criteria will be for the planned £300 million infrastructure funding to be connected to northern towns and cities with High Speed 2.
Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The HS2 scheme itself will already be positive for the North, delivering capacity, connectivity and economic growth benefits. In addition, in October the Chancellor announced £300m to ensure that HS2 infrastructure can accommodate future Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) and Midlands Connect services. This includes connections:
These uses of HS2 infrastructure could be reflected in the Phase 2b hybrid bill if practical and affordable propositions can be developed that deliver value for money for the taxpayer whilst ensuring significant benefits for passengers.
Asked by: Jo Platt (Labour (Co-op) - Leigh)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an estimate of the cost of a direct rail line between Leigh and High Speed 2.
Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Secretary of State would expect Greater Manchester authorities to take the lead in developing local transport around Leigh, including any proposals for links to future HS2 stations.
Asked by: Jo Platt (Labour (Co-op) - Leigh)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the potential ways to reduce journey times between Leigh railway station and Wigan North Western railway station.
Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Government believes it is for local authorities and Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) to determine the best way to meet local transport needs. It would be for Transport for Greater Manchester to develop such plans and look for funding.
Asked by: Jo Platt (Labour (Co-op) - Leigh)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if his Department will carry out a cost benefit analysis of the effect of High Speed 2 on Leigh.
Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Government has completed the cost benefit analysis in the North West as part of the Phase 2b Economic Case (July 2017). It showed that the current Phase 2b scheme is the best way to provide the desired capacity, connectivity and economic growth benefits to the Midlands and the North.
Asked by: Jo Platt (Labour (Co-op) - Leigh)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with Transport for the North on rail and High Speed 2 connectivity in Leigh.
Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Secretary of State would expect Greater Manchester authorities to take the lead in developing local transport around Leigh, including any proposals for links to future HS2 stations. The government has committed £300m to future-proof HS2 to support Transport for the North’s ambition for Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) between the North’s largest cities.