Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to his Department's announcement of 26 October 2014 on a high speed rail link in the north, what plans the Government has to make revisions to current franchising proposals for transpennine rail services.

The TransPennine Express (TPE) franchise specification is currently being finalised and will take into consideration Government policies, Rail North objectives and responses from the consultation held on the TPE and Northern franchises. While the timing of the franchise means it is unlikely to be directly affected by any high-speed rail routes in the north, the franchise is expected to reflect aspirations for faster and better connected journeys across the north of England.