Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has had discussions with TransPennine Express on the (a) punctuality and (b) frequency of services between Dewsbury and Huddersfield.

I have made clear to TransPennine Express’s (TPE’s) management that its current performance is unacceptable. Rail North Partnership is working with TPE on an improvement plan to build back a reliable service. I have weekly meetings to monitor TPE’s progress and recently met TPE’s managing director to impress the need for urgent improvement.