The Prime Minister Boris Johnson was today urged to maintain vital rail services between Southport and Manchester.

Southport Conservative MP Damien Moore appeared at Prime Minister’s Questions , where he asked that “unacceptable” proposals to the line should be scrapped.



The Manchester Task Force, led by the Department for Transport and Network Rail, is currently running a consultation giving people three options over how the network can best cope with increasing levels of change from the pre-COVID service patterns.

All three options call for changes could lead to Southport services no longer calling at stations to the south of the city including Piccadilly, Deansgate and Oxford Road, instead being directed by Manchester Victoria in the north of the city.

People in Southport are being urged to reply to the consultation and answer ‘no change’.

Speaking at Prime Minister’s Questions today, MP Damien Moore said: “The Prime Minister knows how important that the rail link between Southport and Manchester Piccadilly is for my constituents and for those living in the wider Lancashire area.

“All of the changes put forward by the Manchester Rail Recovery Task Force are unacceptable.

“They would stop these services from happening and take our levelling up agenda off track.

“Would my Right Honourable Friend (the Prime Minister) meet with me to discuss changes to these proposals so that we can keep this service and keep my constituents with the service they have come to rely on and which is vital to their economy?”

Prime Minister Boris Johnson replied: “I congratulate my Right Honourable Friend for his campaign for better local transport. We are investing massively in rail connectivity in his area, in local bus routes, and the particular line that he advocates is one that I know is of great interest to the Secretary of State for Transport and I will make sure he has a chance to discuss this personally with him.”

https://parliamentlive.tv/event/inde...5&out=12:16:44
Damien Moore, MP @ PMQs

Damien Moore, MP Southport raises the Southport to Manchester Piccadilly passenger rail service at PMQs. For our immense edification the PM responds with:

I congratulate my hon. Friend on his campaign for better local transport, and we are investing massively in rail connectivity in his area and in local bus routes. The particular line that he advocates is, I know, one of great interest to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport, and I will make sure that he has a chance to discuss it personally with my hon. Friend.

…i.e. a bland assurance about "rail connectivity …and in local bus routes" in "the North.

The House of Commons chamber business is more than 90% theatre and occasionally approaching up to 10% constructive debate.

Meanwhile, the issue of Southport to Manchester Piccadilly passenger service is Network Rail's Castlefield Corridor Congested Infrastructure Report with implications for rail passengers across the North of England. Damien Moore, local Councillors and local activists rarely acknowledge the extent of the difficulties.