Written questions by Hussain.

How the expected delivery timescale for a new Bradford railway station compares with other major rail schemes in the North of England; and what steps are being taken to ensure those schemes are implementing quickly.

As part of the first phase of Northern Powerhouse Rail, we will press forward with the work already in hand with Bradford Metropolitan District Council on a business case for a new Bradford station. We expect to reach decisions on the station by Summer 2026 and have made funding available to then move forward into detailed design. The government is learning the lessons from HS2, taking sufficient time to explore and develop options, building certainty in costs, outputs and benefits, before confirming decisions on details such as construction timelines. We will work closely with local leaders to do that.

What targets her Department has set for reducing rail journey times between (a) Bradford and Leeds and (b) Bradford and Manchester; and how those targets align with the objectives of the Railways Bill.

Northern Powerhouse Rail will seek to create a turn up and go railway for passengers from Bradford to travel to cities across the growth corridor, including improving connections to Leeds and Manchester. The government is learning the lessons from HS2 by taking sufficient time to explore and develop options, and so building certainty in costs, outputs and benefits, before confirming decisions on details such as journey times. We will work closely with local leaders to do that.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of improved rail connectivity in Bradford on the economy, including its potential contribution to productivity, employment and housing delivery in West Yorkshire.

Bradford will be put at the heart of our plans for Northern Powerhouse Rail. Our investment in NPR will provide a catalyst for a major regeneration of Bradford’s Southern Gateway, which is planned to contribute thousands of new homes and commercial development. We will work closely with local leaders to help realise these plans.

Whether Bradford will be included in the core network of Northern Powerhouse Rail; and when a final decision on route options affecting Bradford will be announced.

Bradford will be put at the heart of our plans for Northern Powerhouse Rail. The first phase of NPR, upgrades to lines East of the Pennines for delivery in the 2030s, will be focusing on electrification and upgrades that include the Leeds-Bradford corridor. We will also press forward with the work already in hand with Bradford Metropolitan District Council on a business case for Bradford station. We expect to reach decisions on the station by Summer 2026 and have made funding available to then move forward into detailed design. The third phase of NPR will improve cross-Pennine connections, and the Government sees Bradford-Manchester as a key part of this overall programme. Further details will be announced in the future, once these have been worked through with local leaders.

How Great British Railways plans to work with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority on rail funding in Bradford; and what statutory role local transport authorities will have in shaping service patterns affecting the city.

Great British Railways will work closely with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, including on matters relating to rail funding in Bradford, through the statutory roles established in the Railways Bill and through a future partnership arrangement with GBR. GBR will be required to consult Mayoral Strategic Authorities where decisions on passenger services or rail infrastructure could have a significant impact on their areas. GBR will also have regard to their Local Transport Plans to ensure that local priorities – including how rail services interface with wider local transport networks – are fully considered.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the Bradford Interchange operating as a terminus on the operation of the railway; and what options are being considered to help reduce network delays arising from reversing services.

The government is already working with Bradford Metropolitan Borough Council on station options, including consideration of the Bradford Interchange site, and has provided funding for business case development. We expect to take decisions on that by summer 2026.

What assessment has been made of the effectiveness of options to implement a direct rail link between Bradford and Huddersfield; and whether funding has been provided for the development of that link.

We will be assessing options for Bradford-Manchester connections as part of the work done for the Northern Powerhouse Rail Programme on the Bradford station business case.

With reference to her Department's press release entitled Multi-billion-pound drive to transform rail and growth across Yorkshire and North East, published on 14 January 2026, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of the business case for a new train station in Bradford city centre; and what timetable has been set for (a) completion of the business case, (b) funding approval and (c) commencement of construction of the train station.

As part of the first phase of Northern Powerhouse Rail, we will press forward with the work already in hand with Bradford Metropolitan District Council on a business case for a new Bradford station. We expect to reach decisions on the station by Summer 2026 and have made funding available to then move forward into detailed design. The government is learning the lessons from HS2, taking sufficient time to explore and develop options, building certainty in costs, outputs and benefits, before confirming decisions on details such as construction timelines. We will work closely with local leaders to do that.

What funding has been allocated to the Bradford Rail Programme; and what further funding is planned to support (a) engineering and (b) design work during the Spending Review period.

The Government has allocated £1.1bn funding for Northern Powerhouse Rail in this SR period. This is the first funding allocation within the overall £45bn lifetime cap for the programme. This funding will drive forward development work for the programme including taking forward the design for a new station in Bradford, subject to the business case process, with decisions expected in Summer 2026.

What steps she is taking with mayoral combined authorities to deliver large-scale transport infrastructure.

Eligible Mayoral Combined Authorities are in receipt of £5.7 billion of funding through the City Regions Sustainable Transport Settlements (CRSTS) programme, running for a five-year period from April 2022 to March 2027. This devolved funding affords Mayors the ability to develop and implement large scale transport interventions that most benefit their areas.Following the Summer Spending Review, £15.6 billion of devolved funding was confirmed to provide Transport for City Regions (TCR) settlements for the nine eligible Mayoral Strategic Authorities (MSAs) from the period April 2027 to March 2032.

Whether the £2.1bn funding commitment for the West Yorkshire mass transit scheme remains fully allocated to the project following the programme reset.

The Government fully supports the Mayor of West Yorkshire’s ambition to deliver Mass Transit in the region, boosting connectivity and unlocking growth and opportunity for the people of West Yorkshire. That is why we have allocated funding for the project as part of West Yorkshire’s £2.1 billion Transport for City Regions funding between 2027 and 2032. I am pleased to confirm that Lord Hendy, Minister of State for Rail, will be working alongside the Mayor to support her in delivering the programme.WYCA plan to submit their first business case for approval to the Government in 2026 As the body responsible for developing and delivering the project, it is for West Yorkshire Combined Authority to undertake any assessment of impacts on communities as the plans for mass transit develop.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the recent government review of the West Yorkshire mass transit scheme on planned delivery timescales for the Bradford–Leeds line.

The Government fully supports the Mayor of West Yorkshire’s ambition to deliver Mass Transit in the region, boosting connectivity and unlocking growth and opportunity for the people of West Yorkshire. That is why we have allocated funding for the project as part of West Yorkshire’s £2.1 billion Transport for City Regions funding between 2027 and 2032. I am pleased to confirm that Lord Hendy, Minister of State for Rail, will be working alongside the Mayor to support her in delivering the programme.WYCA plan to submit their first business case for approval to the Government in 2026 As the body responsible for developing and delivering the project, it is for West Yorkshire Combined Authority to undertake any assessment of impacts on communities as the plans for mass transit develop.

What assessment she has made of the cost to the public purse of delaying the West Yorkshire mass transit scheme.

The Government fully supports the Mayor of West Yorkshire’s ambition to deliver Mass Transit in the region, boosting connectivity and unlocking growth and opportunity for the people of West Yorkshire. That is why we have allocated funding for the project as part of West Yorkshire’s £2.1 billion Transport for City Regions funding between 2027 and 2032. I am pleased to confirm that Lord Hendy, Minister of State for Rail, will be working alongside the Mayor to support her in delivering the programme.WYCA plan to submit their first business case for approval to the Government in 2026 As the body responsible for developing and delivering the project, it is for West Yorkshire Combined Authority to undertake any assessment of impacts on communities as the plans for mass transit develop.

What specific risks were identified by her Department that led to requiring West Yorkshire Combined Authority to separate route planning from the business case for the mass transit system.

The Government fully supports the Mayor of West Yorkshire’s ambition to deliver Mass Transit in the region, boosting connectivity and unlocking growth and opportunity for the people of West Yorkshire. That is why we have allocated funding for the project as part of West Yorkshire’s £2.1 billion Transport for City Regions funding between 2027 and 2032. I am pleased to confirm that Lord Hendy, Minister of State for Rail, will be working alongside the Mayor to support her in delivering the programme.WYCA plan to submit their first business case for approval to the Government in 2026 As the body responsible for developing and delivering the project, it is for West Yorkshire Combined Authority to undertake any assessment of impacts on communities as the plans for mass transit develop.

Whether her Department has imposed new conditions on the release of funding for the West Yorkshire mass transit scheme following the government review.

The Government fully supports the Mayor of West Yorkshire’s ambition to deliver Mass Transit in the region, boosting connectivity and unlocking growth and opportunity for the people of West Yorkshire. That is why we have allocated funding for the project as part of West Yorkshire’s £2.1 billion Transport for City Regions funding between 2027 and 2032. I am pleased to confirm that Lord Hendy, Minister of State for Rail, will be working alongside the Mayor to support her in delivering the programme.WYCA plan to submit their first business case for approval to the Government in 2026 As the body responsible for developing and delivering the project, it is for West Yorkshire Combined Authority to undertake any assessment of impacts on communities as the plans for mass transit develop.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of delaying the West Yorkshire mass transit scheme into the late 2030s on Bradford.

The Government fully supports the Mayor of West Yorkshire’s ambition to deliver Mass Transit in the region, boosting connectivity and unlocking growth and opportunity for the people of West Yorkshire. That is why we have allocated funding for the project as part of West Yorkshire’s £2.1 billion Transport for City Regions funding between 2027 and 2032. I am pleased to confirm that Lord Hendy, Minister of State for Rail, will be working alongside the Mayor to support her in delivering the programme.WYCA plan to submit their first business case for approval to the Government in 2026 As the body responsible for developing and delivering the project, it is for West Yorkshire Combined Authority to undertake any assessment of impacts on communities as the plans for mass transit develop.

What steps she is taking to help ensure that the West Yorkshire mass transit scheme is delivered by the late 2030s.

The Government fully supports the Mayor of West Yorkshire’s ambition to deliver Mass Transit in the region, boosting connectivity and unlocking growth and opportunity for the people of West Yorkshire. That is why we have allocated funding for the project as part of West Yorkshire’s £2.1 billion Transport for City Regions funding between 2027 and 2032. I am pleased to confirm that Lord Hendy, Minister of State for Rail, will be working alongside the Mayor to support her in delivering the programme.WYCA plan to submit their first business case for approval to the Government in 2026 As the body responsible for developing and delivering the project, it is for West Yorkshire Combined Authority to undertake any assessment of impacts on communities as the plans for mass transit develop.

What steps she is taking to ensure that the delay to the West Yorkshire mass transit scheme does not disproportionately disadvantage communities in Bradford.

The Government fully supports the Mayor of West Yorkshire’s ambition to deliver Mass Transit in the region, boosting connectivity and unlocking growth and opportunity for the people of West Yorkshire. That is why we have allocated funding for the project as part of West Yorkshire’s £2.1 billion Transport for City Regions funding between 2027 and 2032. I am pleased to confirm that Lord Hendy, Minister of State for Rail, will be working alongside the Mayor to support her in delivering the programme.WYCA plan to submit their first business case for approval to the Government in 2026 As the body responsible for developing and delivering the project, it is for West Yorkshire Combined Authority to undertake any assessment of impacts on communities as the plans for mass transit develop.

What discussions she has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the impact of inflation on the projected costs of the West Yorkshire mass transit scheme following its delay.

The Government fully supports the Mayor of West Yorkshire’s ambition to deliver Mass Transit in the region, boosting connectivity and unlocking growth and opportunity for the people of West Yorkshire. That is why we have allocated funding for the project as part of West Yorkshire’s £2.1 billion Transport for City Regions funding between 2027 and 2032. I am pleased to confirm that Lord Hendy, Minister of State for Rail, will be working alongside the Mayor to support her in delivering the programme.WYCA plan to submit their first business case for approval to the Government in 2026 As the body responsible for developing and delivering the project, it is for West Yorkshire Combined Authority to undertake any assessment of impacts on communities as the plans for mass transit develop.

What lessons her Department has learned from the cancellation of previous mass transit proposals in West Yorkshire when overseeing the current scheme.

The Government fully supports the Mayor of West Yorkshire’s ambition to deliver Mass Transit in the region, boosting connectivity and unlocking growth and opportunity for the people of West Yorkshire. That is why we have allocated funding for the project as part of West Yorkshire’s £2.1 billion Transport for City Regions funding between 2027 and 2032. I am pleased to confirm that Lord Hendy, Minister of State for Rail, will be working alongside the Mayor to support her in delivering the programme.WYCA plan to submit their first business case for approval to the Government in 2026 As the body responsible for developing and delivering the project, it is for West Yorkshire Combined Authority to undertake any assessment of impacts on communities as the plans for mass transit develop.