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Select committee: Transport Committee

Conclusion 19

Second Report - The Integrated Rail Plan for the North and Midlands Published 27 Jul 2022 Paragraph 81 Addressed to Department for Transport

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Conclusion (the committee's words)
Completed according to the planned timetable, the IRP should provide enhanced rail services for passengers in the Midlands and the North significantly earlier than previous options. This does, however, depend on the projects being completed to time, which is difficult to guarantee.

From: Transport Committee, Second Report - The Integrated Rail Plan for the North and Midlands (HC 292), paragraph 81, 27 July 2022

Government response

The government responded to the whole report on 13 July 2023 (deadline 27 September 2022).

Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.

The Government welcomes the report and sets out a mixed response: it accepts several recommendations, some with caveats on timing, but does not accept that the Integrated Rail Plan "underserves the rail needs of the North of England".

  • On the Golborne Link, it "accepts the rationale" for the recommendation but says the work will take longer than suggested; it remains "committed to looking at alternatives" and safeguarding is to be maintained meanwhile.
  • It does not accept that the overall evidence base needs to be reconsidered, citing similar outputs, the adaptive approach and "significant" cost differentials of alternatives.
  • It accepts the recommendation on HS2 to Leeds, will publish terms of reference "before the summer recess" and anticipates the study taking "around 18 months", while stating that the study "does not guarantee further interventions will be agreed or progressed".
  • It "notes" the recommendation on a Manchester Piccadilly underground station and continues to believe a combined surface station is best placed to meet the needs of both HS2 and NPR services.

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