Written question asked by Dan Jarvis (Labour) on Monday, 29 November 2021, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 2 December 2021 (named day). It was answered by Andrew Stephenson (Conservative) on Thursday, 2 December 2021 on behalf of the Department for Transport.

Railways: Sheffield

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential economic impact on Sheffield of his proposals for connectivity to that city as part of the Integrated Rail Plan.

Answer: By improving regional connectivity, the Integrated Rail Plan will unify labour markets, so that people can access a much wider range of jobs; bring businesses closer together; and improve access to key international gateways and markets so they become even more attractive locations for business investment. Electrification of the Midland Mainline along with HS2 East will deliver the same journey time improvements between Sheffield and London as the previously planned HS2 Eastern leg and will cut the journey from Sheffield to Birmingham by 13 minutes. In addition, completing upgrades to the Hope Valley Line could bring improved provision for rail freight in the longer term.

Secondary information