To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what estimate he has made of the savings to the public purse likely to result from the closure of the Oldham Loop Line in Greater Manchester in October 2009. (283353)

[holding answer 1 July 2009]: The Department for Transport is currently calculating changes to the subsidy payments to Northern Rail in line with the Franchise Agreement. Any savings arising were taken into account in the development of the Metrolink business case.

The Department will be contributing £244.3 million towards the expansion of Metrolink to Oldham, Rochdale and Chorlton.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what steps his Department is taking to relieve congestion on rail routes in Greater Manchester. (283354)

[holding answer 1 July 2009]: The Government are currently in discussions with relevant train operators on measures to increase peak-hour train capacity for commuters into Manchester by 2014. It is also working with Network Rail in its “Manchester Hub” study, to identify options for increasing rail capacity from 2014 onwards.