Minister Challenged on Rail Upgrade

12.00.00am GMT Mon 16th Dec 2002

Local MP Andrew Stunell has attacked the Government's decision to put widening the M6 ahead of finalising the upgrading of the West Coast Main Line through Stockport to London.

In Parliament last week, Mr Stunell challenged the Transport Minister on his choice of the £500 million road-widening project ahead of paying for the switch to 140 mph trains to London.

"The future of travel between the North West and South East is going to be rail, for both passengers and freight. The sooner the upgrade of the line is finalised the sooner we can tackle the congestion and pollution of road travel."

"The minister's choice directly contradicts what the government has been preaching. It is disappointing that thec rail bottlenecks already clearly identified are not being tackled, leaving both commuters and long distance travellers across the Manchester area in limbo."