Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the need for (a) station upgrades and (b) improved integration between national rail services and devolved transport systems in order to support increased capacity and reliability across the North-West rail network.

Greater integration between national rail and devolved transport systems like Manchester’s Bee Network is key to improving connectivity within, and between, our great cities in the North. Our newly published Better Connected national transport strategy sets the direction for a more joined-up transport network that works better for passengers, drivers and communities across England.

Additionally, the £1.5 billion Manchester & Northwest Transformation Programme is already delivering station upgrades at Salford Crescent, with more planned at Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Oxford Road.