Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to page 33 of the Autumn Statement, CP 751 published on 17 November 2022, whether the commitment to Build East-West Rail includes building connection stages 2 and 3.

The Autumn Statement recommitted to the government’s transformative growth plans for our railways including East West Rail. Connection Stage 2 (Bletchley to Bedford) and Connection Stage 3 (Bedford to Cambridge) of East West Rail are at development stage, and options for the sections were consulted on as part of a wide-ranging non-statutory consultation from March-June 2021. An update on the project will be provided in due course. As a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP), EWR Co. is planning to submit a Development Consent Order (DCO) to secure the relevant planning and permitted development powers.