Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to page 25 paragraph G of the policy paper entitled Network North, published on 4 October 2023, whether he plans for Waverley to be a new railway station on the existing line between Sheffield and Worksop; and whether the reference to Waverley will include the Barrow Hill railway line between Sheffield and Chesterfield hat was listed in his Department's news story entitled Moving Ahead to Reopen Railway Lines and Stations, published June 2022.

Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

The new Waverley station will be located on the existing Sheffield to Worksop line, between Darnall and Woodhouse stations. This station project will be developed separately from the wider Barrow Hill line reopening project. Should timetabling on the route permit, the new Barrow Hill service will call at Waverley to enable a higher frequency, all-day service.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to page 25 of the policy paper entitled Network North, published on 4 October 2023, whether the proposed Midlands Rail hub has entered the Rail Network Enhancements Pipeline; what the project’s Project Acceleration in a Controlled Environment stage is; when approval was granted to enter that stage; and whether entry to the next stage will be granted.

Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

The Government received a business case for MRH’s "West and Central" scope (for improved services between Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, and Hereford/Worcester) from Network Rail in November 2022. We are assessing the case for moving to the next stage through the Rail Network Enhancements Pipeline, which would involve preparing detailed designs and working towards a future decision to deliver the scheme. We hope to be able to confirm next steps very soon.

In progressing MRH’s "Eastern" scope (for improved services between Birmingham and the East Midlands), in addition to considering the business case being prepared by Network Rail, we will also need to now take stock of the Network North plans and how the scheme can best optimise transport links throughout the region.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the (a) final cost and (b) completion date of the Midlands Rail hub.

Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

Network North increased the funding of Midlands Rail Hub to £1.75bn and committed to deliver the scheme in full.

MRH is being developed for delivery in two phases. The first phase, improved services between Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff and Worcester, is currently anticipated to be operational in the early 2030s. The second phase, improved services between Birmingham and the East Midlands, is currently anticipated to be operational from the mid to late 2030s.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Davies of Gower on 22 November (HL278), whether the Prime Minister's commitment to deliver new rail schemes "far more quickly" than the scrapped Manchester leg of HS2, as set out in their Network North published in October (CP 946), applies to the lines from (1) Burton to Leicester, and (2) Stoke to Leek.

Answered by Lord Davies of Gower - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Under the Network North announcement, the Government has committed to delivering both schemes, both of which could be delivered quicker than Phase 2b of HS2 which was due to complete in 2041.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, which projects in the north and midlands will receive funds reallocated from the cancellation of Phase 2 of the HS2 project.

Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

You can see a full list of projects here: Find out about every new transport project in your region - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

All Network North schemes will be subject to the development and approval of business cases and will undergo formal governance in line with relevant fiscal and legal duties.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department plans to reopen the Ivanhoe line from Burton-on-Trent to Leicester.

Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

The project is in the Development stage and is currently focusing on the reinstatement of services between Derby and Coalville. This will reconnect all key towns in the corridor and is likely to be deliverable the fastest. The Department is considering how an extension of this service to Leicester is best progressed.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the (a) projected end date is, (b) forecast spend in the financial year 2023-24 is, (c) initial planned whole life costs were and (d) delivery confidence assessment is of the Midlands Rail Hub programme; and when each of those figures were last reviewed.

Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

The Midlands Rail Hub is projected to enter service in the early 2030s, and the forecast spend in 2023/24 is £7.98m. Initial planned whole life costs (at the time of the 2019 Strategic Outline Business Case) were £1,544m. The Delivery Confidence Assessment remains Amber, as set out in the Infrastructure and Projects Authority Annual Report. This detail is reviewed quarterly in line with the requirements of the Government’s Major Projects Portfolio.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Answer of 26 January 2023 to Question 129879 on Railways: Midlands and North of England, what assessment the Department has made of the potential impact on (a) services and (b) passengers at intermediate stations on the East Coast Mainline of (a) no longer being served and (b) receiving a reduced service as a result of the changes.

Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

As previously confirmed in the response to question 129879, detailed timetabling work for the Integrated Rail Plan will be conducted at a later stage of project development. Once developed, an updated East Coast Main Line timetable specification would be subject to public consultation.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 26 January 2023 to Question 129878, if he will estimate the length of track in kilometres on which trains could travel at 140 miles per hour broken down by rolling stock performance specification.

Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

Network Rail have yet to conduct that level of performance analysis. In line with normal project development, this work will be carried out to support the business cases required for the investment needed to implement the higher line speeds.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 17th January to Question 122182 on Railways: Midlands and North of England, for how many of the 217 track kilometres would a train reach 140mph.

Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

Within the 217km, trains would need to accelerate up to 140mph and decelerate back down to 125mph. The distance this would take depends upon the performance specification of the rolling stock.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the answer of 17 January to Question 122183 on Railways: Midlands and North of England, how many stops would need to be reduced in order to achieve savings of (a) 25 minutes to Newcastle and Edinburgh, (b) 15 minutes to Darlington and (c) 20 minutes to Leeds.

Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

In line with normal project development, detailed timetabling work for the Integrated Rail Plan (IRP) will be conducted later. Once developed, an updated East Coast Main Line (ECML) timetable specification would be expected to be subject to public consultation.

As set out in the published Mott Macdonald report upon which the IRP ECML journey times are based, the fastest journey times between London and Leeds and London and Edinburgh assume two stops and one stop, respectively, whilst the fastest journey time from London to Newcastle assumes no intermediate stops. Not every train would adopt these patterns, with intermediate stations served by separate services.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to page 14 of the Integrated Rail Plan for the North and Midlands published on 18 November 2021, what estimate his Department has made of the length of track in kilometres that is feasible to upgrade to 140mph.

Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

Initial analysis conducted by Mott MacDonald on behalf of the Department suggests that it would be feasible to upgrade up to 135 miles (217km) of the East Coast Main Line to support 140mph operation.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Integrated Rail Plan p15, whether the assumptions of twenty five minute time savings are based on reducing intermediate stops along the East Coast Mainline.

Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

The Integrated Rail Plan (IRP) sets out ambitious plans for the upgrade of the East Coast Main Line (ECML). The fastest ECML journey times quoted in the IRP may be achieved through a combination of increasing maximum speeds from 125mph to 140mph on some sections of the route, and by some services making fewer intermediate stops. Intermediate stations along the route would be served by separate services and the detailed timetable specification will be developed when the IRP is progressed.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of constructing the Midlands Rail Hub on the national economy.

Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

The Department for Transport received the Outline Business Case (OBC) for Midlands Rail Hub on 14^th November. We will need to assess the contribution of the scheme to the Government’s objectives, affordability, value for taxpayer money, and its impact on the national economy. We will make announcements on how to proceed with the project in due course.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of constructing the Midlands Rail Hub for people in (a) Bosworth constituency and (b) Leicestershire.

Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

The Department for Transport received the Outline Business Case (OBC) for Midlands Rail Hub on 14^th November. We will now assess the contribution of the scheme to our objectives – including the benefits for the people of Bosworth and Leicestershire – alongside value for taxpayer money, and affordability.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Second Report of the Transport Committee entitled The Integrated Rail Plan for the North and Midlands, published on 27 July 2022, HC 292, if he will implement the recommendation to publish the full technical appraisals of the feasibility of the time reductions identified in the Integrated Rail Plan.

Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

The Government is considering the Transport Committee’s report. We intend to provide an update later this year, and a full response by March 2023.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when a determination will be made on the Outline Business Case for the Midlands Rail Hub.

Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

We received the Outline Business Case for the Midlands Rail Hub on 14^th November. We will consider it carefully and respond in due course.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the Midlands Rail Hub on rail usage in that region.

Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

The Department for Transport received the Outline Business Case for Midlands Rail Hub on 14^th November. We will need to assess the contribution of the scheme to forecast impacts on rail usage in the Midlands region, including taking account of the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on changing travel demand.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has made an assessment of the potential economic benefits of building the Midlands Rail Hub.

Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

The Department for Transport received the Outline Business Case (OBC) for Midlands Rail Hub on 14^th November. We will need to assess the contribution of the scheme to the Government’s objectives – including the potential economic benefits – alongside value for taxpayer money, and affordability .

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has had recent discussions with (a) relevant stakeholders and (b) local leaders in the Midlands on the potential merits of constructing the Midlands Rail Hub for local residents.

Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

The Department for Transport received the Outline Business Case (OBC) for Midlands Rail Hub on 14^th November. The OBC was jointly developed by Midlands Connect, representing local stakeholders and leaders across the region, together with Network Rail. We will need to assess the OBC and will make announcements on how to proceed with the project in due course.