Ian C. Lucas – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian C. Lucas on 2015-12-09.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent representations he has received on rail paths from North Wales to Manchester Airport.

Andrew Jones

We are aware that Arriva Trains Wales (ATW), and other operators, are seeking to introduce additional services to Manchester Airport; however, capacity through central Manchester and at the Airport is limited. Infrastructure investment to deliver the Northern Hub (including the recently-opened fourth platform at the Airport) will improve the situation, but there are more aspirations for direct services to the Airport than even the post-Hub infrastructure will be able to accommodate.

Please note that it is the Independent Office of Road and Rail which is responsible for the allocation of train paths and not the Department and it is therefore for the Office of Road and Rail to consider ATW’s application alongside other requests submitted for use of the limited available capacity for additional rail services to/from Manchester Airport.