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Railways: West Midlands

Asked by Wendy MortonConservativeDepartment for TransportTabled Answered 28 October 2025UIN 83840

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of using the Sutton Park freight line for passenger services on (a) the capacity of the West Coast main line and (b) passenger services into central Birmingham.

Answered by Simon Lightwood

The Rail Network Enhancement Pipeline investment portfolio was set out in the June 2025 Spending Review settlement.

The Department for Transport is not actively exploring this proposal for the Sutton Park freight line, but local authorities such as West Midlands Combined Authority, are free to develop local proposals for investment using their own devolved transport funding.

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