Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what rail lines are being considered for the 5G trials that will support improvements to rail passenger connectivity.

At Autumn Budget 2017, the Government allocated £35 million to projects that will support improvement to rail passenger connectivity, including the Trans-Pennine Initiative (TPI). This is a joint project between the 5G Testbeds and Trials and Local Full Fibre Networks Programmes.

The projects involved are to :

• upgrade the Network Rail test track in Melton Mowbray, and
• to install trackside infrastructure along part of the Trans Pennine route, this will include the rollout of fibre between Manchester and York.