Rail minister hit by train delays on trip to Manchester to announce funding to cut delays

The rail minister was hit by train delays this morning on a trip to Manchester to announce an £84m investment to reduce train delays across the North West.

Conservative MP Wendy Morton was due to arrive at Manchester Victoria today to reveal the plans to improve the reliability of the region's railways. However, the Tory minister's trip to the city was hampered by train delays.

Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service this afternoon (March 11), Morton said, "these things happen occasionally – it's just one of those things."

READ MORE: Government reveal 'short-term' fix for region's railways - but it 'won't come close' to solving problems

Heading back to her constituency in the West Midlands, the rail minister said the £84m investment will pay for platform extensions and trackside upgrades.

Trains are expected to be more reliable than they were before the pandemic once this work is complete and a new timetable is introduced in December. But the number of trains travelling through the congested Castlefield Corridor - one of the most worst bottlenecks in Britain - will remain at the same level.

The work stems from the Secretary of State’s Manchester Recovery Task Force which was set up to address the 'unacceptable levels' of train delays. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps told the Local Democracy Reporting Service yesterday (March 10) that the £84m is for all the 'shorter-term stuff'.

Speaking after her trip to Manchester, minister Morton said she recognises the 'ripple effect' rail congestion in the city centre has on the wider region. The rail minister said: "Reducing the congestion is key to improving reliability which is what we all know - myself included - is really, really, really massive."

In total, £26m