Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what signalling system is planned to be used on the East-West rail link.

The East West Rail programme will be delivered in a phased approach with the Western Section Phase 1 already delivered with conventional signalling and the Western Section Phase 2 to also be delivered with conventional signalling. The Central Section Phase 3 is currently in its definition phase and its signalling system is yet to be confirmed. However, the possibility of using a digital European Train Control System (ETCS) across East West Rail is being explored and could be implemented in the future, across all phases, should it provide significant additional benefits for the programme.