Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to improve rail links between East Lancashire and Manchester; and what factors were considered when making judgements about which projects to support.

Plans to improve rail links between East Lancashire and Manchester including the scheme to install a two-mile loop between Darwen and Sough tunnel (near Entwistle) to facilitate additional services between Blackburn and Manchester and the introduction of improved Burnley – Manchester services using the recently-constructed curve at Todmorden are being promoted by the relevant local authorities. The judgement of which projects to support is a matter for the promoters.