To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to ensure that when bridges over the mainline railway in Kettering are raised to accommodate electrification disruption to local residents and commerce is minimised.

[153286]

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to ensure that when bridges over the mainline railway in Kettering are raised to accommodate electrification disruption to local residents and commerce is minimised.

[153286]

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to electrify the Gospel Oak to Barking line; and what are the expected timescales and costs.[HL6787]

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to electrify the Gospel Oak to Barking line; and what are the expected timescales and costs.[HL6787]

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how his Department plans to ensure that suitable electric rolling stock is available for use by the Great Western franchise from 2015 onwards.

[152807]

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how his Department plans to ensure that suitable electric rolling stock is available for use by the Great Western franchise from 2015 onwards.

[152807]

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress Network Rail has made with its electrification programme; and when he expects the current programme to be completed.

[152809]

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress Network Rail has made with its electrification programme; and when he expects the current programme to be completed.

[152809]

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what assessment his Department has made of the need for additional capacity at Stockport Station and Heaton Norris junction to facilitate service reprogramming resulting from Northern Hub and electrification work around Greater Manchester;

[149211]

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what assessment his Department has made of the need for additional capacity at Stockport Station and Heaton Norris junction to facilitate service reprogramming resulting from Northern Hub and electrification work around Greater Manchester;

[149211]

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what assessment his Department has made of the potential for redirecting rail services between Stockport and Stalybridge and beyond to facilitate the reprogramming resulting from Northern Hub and electrification work around Greater Manchester;

[149214]

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what assessment his Department has made of the potential for redirecting rail services between Stockport and Stalybridge and beyond to facilitate the reprogramming resulting from Northern Hub and electrification work around Greater Manchester;

[149214]

(2) has made of the potential for redirecting rail services between Stockport and Manchester Victoria and beyond to facilitate the reprogramming resulting from Northern Hub and electrification work around Greater Manchester.

[149215]

Andrew Gwynne:

(2) has made of the potential for redirecting rail services between Stockport and Manchester Victoria and beyond to facilitate the reprogramming resulting from Northern Hub and electrification work around Greater Manchester.

[149215]

Andrew Gwynne:

Can the Secretary of State update the House on any talks he has had with the transport Minister in Wales about the electrification of the Wrexham-Bidston line? When does he finally hope to make progress and when can we finally have a station that serves the Deeside industrial estate?

Can the Secretary of State update the House on any talks he has had with the transport Minister in Wales about the electrification of the Wrexham-Bidston line? When does he finally hope to make progress and when can we finally have a station that serves the Deeside industrial estate?

I am due to meet the Minister in Wales shortly to discuss a number of issues. I am sure that the hon. Gentleman’s point will be one of the particular issues we discuss. We have made major announcements about electrification in Wales. I realise that it affects south Wales, but I hope that the hon. Gentleman will think it a move in the right direction.

I am due to meet the Minister in Wales shortly to discuss a number of issues. I am sure that the hon. Gentleman’s point will be one of the particular issues we discuss. We have made major announcements about electrification in Wales. I realise that it affects south Wales, but I hope that the hon. Gentleman will think it a move in the right direction.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent progress has been made on Thameslink procurement and the cascade of existing stock to lines that are being electrified including the Liverpool to Manchester line.

[142152]

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent progress has been made on Thameslink procurement and the cascade of existing stock to lines that are being electrified including the Liverpool to Manchester line.

[142152]

It is a privilege to serve under your chairmanship this morning, Mr Betts, and to raise cross-border travel, which is critical for Wales. It was the subject of two inquiries by the Select Committee on Welsh Affairs in the previous Parliament, and, as is so often the case with such...

It is a privilege to serve under your chairmanship this morning, Mr Betts, and to raise cross-border travel, which is critical for Wales. It was the subject of two inquiries by the Select Committee on Welsh Affairs in the previous Parliament, and, as is so often the case with such...

A word of advice: go to Paddington. It is much easier to get to Aberystwyth from there.

A word of advice: go to Paddington. It is much easier to get to Aberystwyth from there.

Sadly, in my constituency, people then have to contend with the roads—I live in the north of Ceredigion. I enjoy the friendship and camaraderie of the hon. Members for Swansea East and for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr, but two hours sitting there waiting is a trial in many ways.

In evidence...

Sadly, in my constituency, people then have to contend with the roads—I live in the north of Ceredigion. I enjoy the friendship and camaraderie of the hon. Members for Swansea East and for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr, but two hours sitting there waiting is a trial in many ways.

In evidence...

The hon. Gentleman is talking about the historic under-investment in transport in Wales. If High Speed 2 —essentially an England-only railway—goes ahead and given that, despite the fact that transport is not actually devolved, Crossrail resulted in a 100% Barnett consequential, does the hon. Gentleman agree that a Barnett consequential...

The hon. Gentleman is talking about the historic under-investment in transport in Wales. If High Speed 2 —essentially an England-only railway—goes ahead and given that, despite the fact that transport is not actually devolved, Crossrail resulted in a 100% Barnett consequential, does the hon. Gentleman agree that a Barnett consequential...

I welcome that intervention. If the hon. Gentleman will allow me, I shall come on to that point because HS2 is of great interest to many of our constituents.

This is a historic debate. Seven years ago the National Assembly’s development committee heard evidence from the mid-Wales manufacturing group in Newtown....

I welcome that intervention. If the hon. Gentleman will allow me, I shall come on to that point because HS2 is of great interest to many of our constituents.

This is a historic debate. Seven years ago the National Assembly’s development committee heard evidence from the mid-Wales manufacturing group in Newtown....

I appreciate the hon. Gentleman’s comments on north Wales, south Wales and the exclusion of mid-Wales, but does he recognise, for example, the Conwy Valley railway line in my constituency? The line links to Meirionnydd, which I define as being in mid-Wales. One of the key issues for the Conwy...

I appreciate the hon. Gentleman’s comments on north Wales, south Wales and the exclusion of mid-Wales, but does he recognise, for example, the Conwy Valley railway line in my constituency? The line links to Meirionnydd, which I define as being in mid-Wales. One of the key issues for the Conwy...

I commend the hon. Gentleman on his arrival. I am not sure whether he was here when I talked about timetabling. Franchise arrangements are slightly different in that instance, but there is a need for franchise agreements to ensure synergy between timetables, because

one of my constituents’ persistent complaints is...

I commend the hon. Gentleman on his arrival. I am not sure whether he was here when I talked about timetabling. Franchise arrangements are slightly different in that instance, but there is a need for franchise agreements to ensure synergy between timetables, because

one of my constituents’ persistent complaints is...

Well done to the hon. Member for Ceredigion (Mr Williams) for securing this debate. I am sorry that I was unable to be on his marathon six-hour train journey, but he has made a persuasive case for mid-Wales, and I am sure the Minister is listening. I also thank him...

Well done to the hon. Member for Ceredigion (Mr Williams) for securing this debate. I am sorry that I was unable to be on his marathon six-hour train journey, but he has made a persuasive case for mid-Wales, and I am sure the Minister is listening. I also thank him...

Does the hon. Lady agree that, on the announcement we heard in evidence to the Welsh Affairs Committee that the UK Government intend to continue the tolls at their current level, following the return to public ownership because of a previously undisclosed debt, the general impression in Wales is that...

Does the hon. Lady agree that, on the announcement we heard in evidence to the Welsh Affairs Committee that the UK Government intend to continue the tolls at their current level, following the return to public ownership because of a previously undisclosed debt, the general impression in Wales is that...