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.

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.