Asked by: Helen Jones (Labour - Warrington North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, for what reasons representatives of HS2 Ltd told residents of Rixton at a recent meeting in Culcheth that a viaduct would definitely be built in their parish.
Answered by Robert Goodwill
HS2 Ltd recently held engagement events along the proposed route north of Crewe including in Culcheth, Warrington. At the event, local residents asked a range of questions relating to the proposed railway alignment based on publicly available consultation plans.
All proposals in this region are yet to be confirmed pending a route decision planned for autumn 2016.
Asked by: Helen Jones (Labour - Warrington North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will re-assess the business case for the Hoo Green to Bamfurlong spur of the second phase of High Speed 2 to take account of the decision to place the train depot at Crewe rather than Golborne.
Answered by Robert Goodwill
HS2 Ltd and the Department for Transport have been analysing route and station options in light of responses received following the Phase Two consultation. It would not be appropriate to go into detail on any individual location before a route decision has been taken. A route decision is planned for autumn 2016.
Asked by: Helen Jones (Labour - Warrington North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress has been made on finalising the route for the second stage of High Speed 2; and when he expects to announce the decision on that route.
Answered by Robert Goodwill
In November last year the Secretary of State confirmed plans for accelerating construction of Phase Two from the West Midlands to Crewe so that it opens in 2027, six years earlier than planned.
We are developing our plans for the rest of Phase Two and we intend to make a decision on the rest of the route in autumn 2016.
Asked by: Helen Jones (Labour - Warrington North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much capital spending per head of population was spent on transport projects in (a) Warrington and (b) Cheshire in each of the past five years.
Answered by Andrew Jones
Data on spend per head of population on transport projects is not available at the level of either Warrington or Cheshire.
However, the three local authorities in Cheshire have benefitted from significant transport investment over last five years (2010-11 to 2014-15), for example, £ 35.6 million of Integrated Transport Block funding (Warrington £8.6 million) and £91.1 million for Highways Maintenance (Warrington £17 million). In addition, £12.7 million from the Local Sustainable Transport Fund supported programmes in each local authority area (Warrington £4.6 million), with Warrington also part of the £3.2 million Mid Mersey LSTF project. £9.88 million has been provided from the Local Pinch Point Fund and Cheshire East has received £15.6 million for the Crewe Green Link Road, due for completion shortly.
Asked by: Helen Jones (Labour - Warrington North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the contribution that the Hoo Green to Bamfurlong spur of High Speed 2 is likely to make to reducing capacity constraints on the West Coast Main Line; and what account that estimate takes of (a) rail freight and (b) passenger services to Warrington Bank Quay and elsewhere.
Answered by Robert Goodwill
Network Rail has identified[1] that crowding issues on the West Coast Main Line (WCML) mean that, whilst there is the potential to run a small number of additional services, the WCML will be effectively full by 2024. The lack of capacity will become even more acute beyond 2024 as demand continues to grow. This will negatively affect both freight and passenger services. The western leg of HS2 Phase Two alleviates these capacity constraints in the Warrington area.
[1] Network Rail: West Coast Main Line Route Utilisation Strategy
Asked by: Helen Jones (Labour - Warrington North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an assessment of the impact on the North-West regional economy of the decision to delay the electrification of the TransPennine rail line.
Answered by Andrew Jones
The Secretary of State for Transport has asked Sir Peter Hendy, the incoming chairman of Network Rail, to develop proposals by the autumn for how the rail upgrade programme will be carried out. Once those proposals have been received, and agreed, the Department will consider whether any specific changes to the schedule of rail upgrades requires further assessment.
Asked by: Helen Jones (Labour - Warrington North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he expects work to begin on the proposed High Speed 3 railway line; and what assessment he has made of the effect the delay in the electrification of the current TransPennine line on those proposals.
Answered by Robert Goodwill
As part of building a Northern Powerhouse, the Government is working jointly with Transport for the North to develop options for improved east-west rail journeys in the north. We plan to produce prioritised options by Budget 2016 and expect the first tranche to be ready to inform the Government’s Rail Investment Strategy for the next rail investment period (Control Period 6, 2019 - 2024).
Electrification of the NorthTrans-Pennine line east of Stalybridge is paused, not stopped, pending receipt of Sir Peter Hendy's re-planning proposals this autumn. The re-plan will take into consideration the plans for the Northern Powerhouse to ensure we deliver the best solution overall.