Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions has he had with Transport for the North on the exclusion of freight from the specification of the north Transpennine upgrade.

Ministers and officials have met TfN representatives on a number of occasions to discuss Trans Pennine Upgrade and other rail issues and confirm that the remit for the upgrade continues to include freight options. Network Rail, the Department and TfN will continue to work closely to develop the programme further and we expect work to begin in Spring next year.