Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of (a) the completion of (i) Alconbury Weald and (ii) other new housing in Huntingdon, (b) planned commercial development at Brampton Cross and (c) the expansion of RAF (A) Wyton and (B) Molesworth on passenger numbers on the East Coast Main line.

The upcoming East Coast Main Line timetable recast in December 2025 will create additional capacity through the introduction of additional peak services between Letchworth and London King’s Cross helping to alleviate pressure on Thameslink services and the peak Peterborough to King’s Cross service, which should ease passenger numbers at stations such as Hitchin.

Any significant increase in rail passenger demand, including from the developments mentioned, and subsequent requirement for potentially increased services would guide the Department’s future infrastructure planning.