Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, for how long Pacer trains will continue to operate on Northern Rail services; and when all Pacer trains will be retired.

We are committed to improving services for passengers across the North. We recognise that Pacers fall short of passengers’ expectations, which is why in our Invitation To Tender, we will specifically ask bidders to set out plans for how they will phase out these trains from the Northern Rail franchise, either in their core proposition or as an option.

Sadly, the last Northern franchise, let in 2004, contained no such provision.

Further details will be set out in the Invitation To Tender for the Northern franchise, which will be published shortly.