Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the expected date is for the commencement of on-site works at Bransty Tunnel, and what the expected date is for the full reopening of the Cumbrian Coast Line at Bransty Tunnel.

Network Rail has set up a dedicated Whitehaven Recovery Taskforce to address flooding and structural issues at Bransty Tunnel linked to historic mining activity. Detailed inspections are complete, and a permanent repair solution has been independently verified and is ready to be delivered.

Network Rail is working closely with the Mining Remediation Authority and the Environment Agency, in relation to the environmental permitting requirements, so that water pollution issues that are leading to the issues in Whitehaven Harbour can be addressed alongside the repairs to Bransty Tunnel. Construction work is expected to take six to nine months to complete once the necessary permits have been secured.