Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of gaps in East-West rail connectivity in the West Midlands and Stafford; and what steps her Department is taking to improve links between communities that are well-served by North-South rail corridors but poorly connected laterally.

The Department recognises the importance of East–West rail connectivity alongside North–South routes in supporting travel across the West Midlands and Staffordshire.

Connectivity is kept under review, and the Department is currently working with the rail industry to consider further improvements to East–West connectivity at weekends on the North Staffordshire Line.

This work is being taken forward with operators as they develop demand‑led timetables that can adapt to passengers’ evolving needs, whilst also making the running of the railways financially sustainable, to ensure that taxpayers’ money is used in the most efficient way.