Oral Answers to Questions

Mark Menzies Excerpts

Thursday 30th June 2022 Commons Chamber

The Secretary of State was asked—

[Mark Menzies (Fylde) (Con)]

1. What steps he is taking to modernise the UK’s railways.

[Caroline Ansell (Eastbourne) (Con)]

8. What steps he is taking to modernise the UK’s railways.

[The Secretary of State for Transport (Grant Shapps)]

The Government are delivering on the reforms set out in the Williams-Shapps plan for rail, making passengers’ journeys easier, more reliable and more affordable.

[Mark Menzies]

I am very passionate about this subject. Fylde is home to a number of world-class events, bringing thousands of people into our great county, but they need good rail connections. I am delighted that the project to double the number of services on the South Fylde line remains very much on the Government’s agenda, with a bid still under consideration. With similar projects progressing to the next stage of development, and some seeing shovels in the ground, what assurance can the Secretary of State give me that we will see similar progress on the South Fylde line?

[Grant Shapps]

I think the whole House recognises my hon. Friend’s enthusiasm for the South Fylde line. We received the strategic outline business case in November 2021, we continue to review that and the next steps will be outlined in the coming months.