Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what funding has been made available to his Department for redevelopment of rural rail stations in the Autumn Statement 2016.

The Autumn Statement announced £450 million to trial digital signalling technology to improve reliability, £5m development funding for Midlands Rail Hub, and £80m to accelerate the rollout of Smart Ticketing. This is in addition to the very substantial investment this Government is making in the railways, the largest since Victorian times.

Through the ongoing Franchise Process, the Government requires train operators to work with Community Rail Partnerships to support rural rail stations and services. The Government provides funding to the Association of Community Rail Partnerships (“ACoRP”), and for the Designated Community Rail Development Fund.

Additionally, the Government supports improvements at all railway stations, including rural railway stations, through the National Station Improvement Programme, Station Commercial Project Facility, and Access for All.