Following years of relentless campaigning to get Fleetwood’s railway back on track, and submitting a petition in Parliament with over three thousand signatures from Fleetwood residents three years ago calling for its reinstatement, I am delighted that finally the Department for Transport have agreed to fund the development of the line!

In a statement, Minister of State for Transport Wendy Morton confirmed the development:

“Following funding to support submission of a Strategic Outline Business Case (SOBC) for the scheme, the Fleetwood SOBC has been assessed and I am pleased to say that the Department would like to support the further development of the scheme by providing further funding from the Restoring Your Railway Fund.

The assessment considered the strategic and economic case presented, deliverability of the scheme and infrastructure requirements, with a focus on the transport issue and strength of case for intervention. This scheme presents potential to reconnect communities in the Fylde Peninsula, and I look forward to seeing it developed further. There are several areas identified in the SOBC, in particular demand potential and key cost risks, which need to be better understood. The Department will therefore be instructing Network Rail to lead a limited and focused study on these issues to support a decision on advancing the scheme to Outline Business Case development.

Funding will be provided to Network Rail to work in collaboration with Lancashire County Council (LCC) and other key stakeholders including Blackpool Transport to progress the scheme to the required standard. The Department will continue working with the Council and Network Rail on the development of this scheme and are in touch with Philippa Williamson (LCC) regarding next steps. The enclosed feedback also aims to be supportive in this process.

We expect to announce the progression of schemes into the next stage on 18th June 2022…Congratulations on progressing to the next stage.”

Related links:

Cat reminds Boris Johnson exactly where Fleetwood is! Not BOLTON (Dec 2021)

Cat quotes constituent concerns in Parliament on Fleetwood Rail Link and demands action (Dec 21)

Cat quizzes Boris Johnson on Fleetwood Rail Link – PM confuses Fleetwood with BOLTON (Nov 2021)

Cat calls for clarity on feasibility funding for Poulton rail link to include station in Fleetwood (Jan 2020)

Cat calls in Parliament for reversal of Beeching cut and to reinstate Fleetwood’s rail link (Jan 2020)

Cat celebrates progress and victory as £100,000 feasibility study into Fleetwood rail link is confirmed! (Jan 2020)

Cat on BBC Politics North West calls for transport investment in the North and for reinstatement of Fleetwood Rail Link (Jan 2020)

Cat confirms Labour Party please and support for reinstatement of Fleetwood Rail Link (Nov 2019)

Cat submits rail link petition in Parliament (Oct 2019)

Cat supports Fleetwood Labour Councillor petitions to bring back Fleetwood rail link (Aug 2019)

Cat joins All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Transport Across the North to fight for Fleetwood Rail Link (June 2019)

Cat lobbies Department for Transport on Fleetwood Rail Link (Nov 2017)

Cat pledges to reinstate Fleetwood rail link (May 2017)

Cat lobbies Northern Rail to bring back Fleetwood Rail Link (March 2017)