Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions his Department has had with (a) Northern Rail and (b) Network Rail about the effect on residents and visitors to Blackpool of the decision to introduce weekend blockades on the railway line from Manchester to Preston in summer 2018.

Department officials are in regular contact with Network Rail and Northern. Upgrading the route between Manchester and Preston, via Bolton, is an integral part of the Great North Rail Project. Delivering this upgrade is complex, and the industry is working hard to limit the impact on services while changes are made and improvements delivered. The industry is being asked to do as much as possible to ensure passengers and communities are informed ahead of all disruption, and is working to deliver improved journeys as soon as possible.