High Peak MP Robert Largan has directly asked the Transport Secretary for his commitment to invest in rail services in the North and to ensure that the upgrade to the Hope Valley line will be going ahead.

During Transport Oral Questions last week, Robert Largan MP asked:

“On Sunday, the new 195 trains finally started running on the Hope Valley line, which runs between Manchester and Sheffield and serves New Mills, Chinley, Edale, Hope, and Bamford in my constituency. This is really welcome news that I have long campaigned for. Services are still not frequent enough and not reliable enough. To solve that, we need to increase capacity. Can I urge the Secretary of State to look to invest more into this often overlooked part of the Northern Powerhouse and finally upgrade the Hope Valley line.”

The Transport Secretary welcomed Robert’s question, assuring him that ministers are investigating options for increasing capacity on the Hope Valley line that an announcement will be made soon.

Earlier last week, Robert Largan MP published a cross-party letter to the Transport Secretary, urging him to proceed with the Hope Valley line upgrade. The letter was co-signed by Paul Blomfield MP, Miriam Cates MP, Chris Clarkson MP, Gill Furniss MP, Andrew Gwynne MP, Louise Haigh MP, Tony Lloyd MP, Angela Rayner MP, Jonathan Reynolds MP, Alexander Stafford MP, Graham Stringer MP, and William Wragg MP.

Robert Largan MP commented:

“I am determined to secure more investment in the High Peak and improve transport for local people. That is why I organised a cross-party letter with a number of MPs in support of an upgrade to the Hope Valley line.

“To push this campaign further, I directly asked the Transport Secretary to commit to this important project. I will use every opportunity to bang the drum for High Peak, and secure the investment we need to improve local services.”