Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when a determination will be made on whether the application for funding for improvements to the Abbey Line to the Restoring Your Railway Fund will progress to the next stage.

In January 2020 the Government pledged £500 million for the Restoring Your Railway programme to deliver on our manifesto commitment to start reopening lines and stations. A Strategic Outline Business Case for the Abbey Line bid was submitted to the Department in March 2021. The Secretary of State for Transport and I will consider next steps for projects, including the Abbey Line, with a decision on the next tranche to progress anticipated in 2022.