Asked by: Gavin Williamson (Conservative - South Staffordshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when strategic development of the Parish of Millington and Rostherne to Liverpool section of Northern Powerhouse Rail commenced; who is responsible for overseeing that work; what the estimated timeline for completing the work is; and what budget his Department has allocated for delivering that section.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Integrated Rail Plan (IRP) and Network North set out the strategic plan and funding for Northern Powerhouse Rail. The high-level route will continue to be developed as set out in the IRP. This includes sections of the track between the Parish of Millington and Rostherne and Liverpool. The government is working closely with our delivery partners including Network Rail and HS2 Ltd to achieve this. The government aims to complete Northern Powerhouse Rail by the mid-2040s.
Asked by: Gavin Williamson (Conservative - South Staffordshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when strategic development of the Manchester Piccadilly to West Yorkshire section of Northern Powerhouse Rail commenced; who is responsible for overseeing that work; what the estimated timeline for completing the work is; and what budget his Department has allocated for delivering that section.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Integrated Rail Plan (IRP) and Network North set out the strategic plan and funding for Northern Powerhouse Rail. The high-level route will continue to be developed as set out in the IRP. This includes sections of the track between Manchester Piccadilly to West Yorkshire. The government is working closely with our delivery partners including Network Rail and HS2 Ltd to achieve this. The government aims to complete Northern Powerhouse Rail by the mid-2040s.
Asked by: Gavin Williamson (Conservative - South Staffordshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will have discussions with the Leader of the House on making parliamentary time available for debate on a motion to formalise the point of truncation of Nothern Powerhouse Rail and the former HS2 Phase 2b; and what plans he has to (a) publish a supplementary environmental statement and (b) consult on that issue.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
I will table a motion that would allow the High-Speed Rail (Crewe to Manchester) Bill to be adapted to deliver the Northern Powerhouse Rail between Manchester and the Parish of Millington and Rostherne shortly. The arrangements for a debate on the motion will be announced in the usual way.
The changes to the scheme will prompt a new supplementary environmental statement, which will be published in due course. As with previous environmental statements there will be a public consultation. Responses received to consultation will be analysed by an Independent Assessor appointed by parliament.
Asked by: Gavin Williamson (Conservative - South Staffordshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Network North budget allocated to connect Manchester to Liverpool applies to the entire section of Northern Powerhouse Rail.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Funding for Northern Powerhouse Rail has been set out in the Integrated Rail Plan and Network North. Network North confirmed £12 billion (2023 prices) of investment to enable Northern Powerhouse Rail to proceed in line with previous plans to better connect Liverpool and Manchester. On 25 March 2024, following extensive engagement with local leaders and local MPs, Government announced that it had heard clear support for Northern Powerhouse Rail to serve Warrington Bank Quay and Manchester Airport. Taking account of local views, this will be the primary options for the next stage of development for the NPR route between Liverpool and Manchester.
Asked by: Gavin Williamson (Conservative - South Staffordshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the (a) route and (b) preliminary design for Northern Powerhouse Rail west of the HS2 Junction at Hoo Green has been determined; and how much funding has been allocated to that route.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Work on the NPR scheme between Liverpool and the Parish of Millington and Rostherne, is currently at strategic scheme development stage. This work is being carried out in line with WMS of 25 March, which set out that Northern Powerhouse Rail will develop a route that is in favour of serving Warrington Bank Quay and Manchester Airport and will use the previously proposed route between the parish of Millington and Rostherne and Manchester. A formal consultation on the remainder of the preferred route is expected to take place in due course.
Asked by: Gavin Williamson (Conservative - South Staffordshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Ashley railhead is required for the Northern Powerhouse Rail core route; and how much funding has been allocated for that railhead.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
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, £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 disaggregated further.
Asked by: Gavin Williamson (Conservative - South Staffordshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans Northern Powerhouse Rail has to upgrade the Fiddlers Ferry line; and how much budget has been allocated to that line.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Work on the NPR scheme between Liverpool and the Parish of Millington and Rostherne, is currently at strategic scheme development stage. This work is being carried out in line with WMS of 25 March, which set out that Northern Powerhouse Rail will develop a route that is in favour of serving Warrington Bank Quay and Manchester Airport and will use the previously proposed route between the parish of Millington and Rostherne and Manchester. A formal consultation on the remainder of the preferred route is expected to take place in due course.
Asked by: Gavin Williamson (Conservative - South Staffordshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the estimated timescale is for the (a) completion and (b) opening of the (i) Northern Powerhouse Rail core route between Manchester and Liverpool and (ii) eastern tunnel section between Manchester and Marsden.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) will transform rail connectivity by providing faster and more frequent services between the North of England’s key economic centres. The government aims to complete Northern Powerhouse Rail by the mid-2040s.
Asked by: Gavin Williamson (Conservative - South Staffordshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what additional work his Department plans to carry out within (a) the Edge Hill Cutting, (b) the station throat and (c) to the platform arrangements to accommodate extra services to the southern approach to Liverpool Lime Street as proposed by Northern Powerhouse Rail and HS2; and how much budget has been allocated to this element of Northern Powerhouse Rail at Q3 2019 prices.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Work on the NPR scheme between Liverpool and the Parish of Millington and Rostherne, is currently at strategic scheme development stage. This work is being carried out in line with WMS of 25 March, which set out that Northern Powerhouse Rail will develop a route that is in favour of serving Warrington Bank Quay and Manchester Airport and will use the previously proposed route between the parish of Millington and Rostherne and Manchester. A formal consultation on the remainder of the preferred route is expected to take place in due course.
Asked by: Gavin Williamson (Conservative - South Staffordshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether feasibility work has been undertaken for the proposed tunnel to Marsden; and how much budget has been allocated to that tunnel.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Work on the NPR scheme between Manchester Piccadilly and West Yorkshire is currently at strategic scheme development stage. A formal consultation on the route is expected to take place in due course.