Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will mandate Northern Rail to operate replacement buses on the Furness line in circumstances where cancelled or reduced services affect children's ability to travel to and from school.

Northern are already obliged by their Franchise Agreement to use all reasonable endeavours to provide or secure the provision of alternative transport arrangements to enable passengers affected by any disruption to complete their intended journeys. This includes ensuring that alternative transport arrangements are of reasonable quality and of a reasonably similar frequency to the advertised timetable.

Officials will raise this specific concern on the Furness Line with the operator.