WOODHEAD LINE AND THE TRANS-PENNINE RAIL LINKS

Early day motion 870, tabled 24 February 2009 by Angela Smith (Labour). Signed by 34 members.

That this House supports the opening of negotiations between Network Rail, National Grid and the Department for Transport regarding future uses of the Woodhead tunnels; believes that it would be a seriously retrograde step if the 1953 tunnel were to be lost for rail use at a time when the demand for new rail capacity is greater than ever; further believes that a new trans-Pennine link, based on the Woodhead line, would benefit the economy of the North to the tune of £10 billion per annum; and calls on the Government to make Crossrail for the North a priority project alongside High Speed Rail Two.

Signatures by party: Labour 28, Liberal Democrat 3, Independent 2, Conservative 1.