Catherine McKinnell
Main Page: Catherine McKinnell (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne North)Department Debates - View all Catherine McKinnell's debates with the Department for Transport
High-speed Rail
Catherine McKinnell Excerpts(10 years, 1 month ago)
Commons ChamberRead Full debate Read Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
Mr McLoughlin
One thing that is curtailing growth in the freight market in the UK is the capacity problems. I hope that, by freeing up capacity, we will see a lot more freight travelling on our railway lines. I urge the freight industry to come forward with proposals on how we can improve the situation, which I think we can.
Catherine McKinnell (Newcastle upon Tyne North) (Lab)
In the light of the taskforce’s recommendations, will the Secretary of State confirm when he will set out the Government’s plan for how HS2 will affect the rail services of cities that are not on the route, such as Newcastle?
Mr McLoughlin
Newcastle will benefit from faster trains running up to Leeds and being able to continue on their current routes. The hon. Lady is right that more work needs to be done on that. It will be done and I will come to the House when it is complete.