Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what investment Network Rail made in the infrastructure on the Hereford to Paddington line in (a) 2012, (b) 2013 and (c) 2014 to date.

Under Control Period 4 (2009 - 2014) Network Rail has doubled the Cotswolds line at a cost of £70m. This involved around 20 miles of track re-doubling from east of Charlbury to Ascott-under-Wychwood, and from Moreton-in-Marsh to west of Evesham, as well as upgrading Worcester Foregate Street station with local growth funds. £895m is being invested in the Reading station area to deliver capacity, capability and performance improvements – and this work is now nearing completion.

Further investment is being delivered in Control Period 5 (2014 – 2019). This includes electrification of the Great Western Mainline from London Paddington to Oxford. Network Rail is delivering significant capacity and passenger improvements at Oxford Station and also delivering significant infrastructure works on sections of this line in preparation for the new Intercity Express, Crossrail, and EMU fleets all being introduced over the next 5 years.