Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of future road and rail freight capacity in the North of England following the cancellation of HS2.

Following the previous government’s cancellation of Phase 2, HS2 is now being delivered between Euston in central London and the West Midlands. The dedicated HS2 infrastructure from London to Birmingham and the West Midlands will release capacity on the West Coast Main Line which can be used to support additional rail freight services. The use of the released capacity is not yet developed, and decisions will be made closer to the opening of HS2 and be subject to consultation.

We recognise concerns about rail capacity and connectivity between Birmingham and Manchester and we are reviewing our plans for future connectivity in the Midlands and the North.

The government is committed to supporting rail freight growth with the Rail Freight growth target to increase it by 75% by 2050.