§ 2. Mr. David Chaytor (Bury, North)If he will make a statement on the Ramsbottom to Manchester rail link. [132960]
§ The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Dr. Kim Howells)Ramsbottom is part of the East Lancashire Railway, a privately run operation on a preserved line between Rawtenstall and Bury Bolton Street. I am not aware of any plan to link it to the national rail network.
§ Mr. ChaytorMy hon. Friend is right to say that there is no Ramsbottom to Manchester rail link, but there was a Manchester to Ramsbottom rail link before Dr. Beeching came along. There could be, and there should be, a Ramsbottom to Manchester rail link. It would be of enormous benefit to the thousands of commuters in my constituency and those of my hon. Friends the Members for Rossendale and Darwen (Janet Anderson) and for Heywood and Middleton (Jim Dobbin). My hon. Friend the Minister is not accurate in saying that there are no such plans. Plans are on the table and there are two alternatives for establishing a Ramsbottom to Manchester rail link, so will he speak as a matter of urgency to the Greater Manchester passenger transport executive and Network Rail to advance at least one of those two alternatives?
§ Dr. HowellsI would be only too glad to speak to both those agencies, although I have to tell my hon. Friend that I can promise nothing.