Government must secure long term resilience of long term rail link – George

West Cornwall MP, Andrew George, demanded the Prime Minister’s support for early action to ensure the resilience of the Penzance to Paddington rail line in PMQs today. Mr George highlighted the perpetual vulnerability of the rail line, especially following severe storm damage that has again closed the line and swept away some of the tracks.

Speaking at Prime Minister’s Questions, Mr George asked: “It’s absolutely true that residents in Cornwall, following the most recent storms, have been concerned that England would be completely cut off, and in view of that whilst MPs from Cornwall and the South West have been content to support the billions necessary for HS2 and other transport projects to the North, does the Prime Minister not accept that relatively small amounts are now needed to ensure the resilience of the rail line between Penzance and Paddington?”

Mr Cameron promised to get behind the drive to improve the resilience of the railway. He responded: “I know from personal experience how vital the Penzance to Paddington link is and how many people rely on it so I’m happy to look at this very urgently… on the transport links it is an urgent requirement to get things right.”

Mr George will work with Cornwall Council, other authorities and fellow MPs to make sure that the Penzance rail link receives investment comparable with that being spent on HS2.

 

 

 

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