Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with Network Rail on the status of the rail freight line between Felixstowe and Tilbury ports (a) in Control Period 5 and (b) under the Freight Utilisation Strategy.

There is no direct rail freight line between Felixstowe and Tilbury, although up to two services a day in each direction operate between the two. I have not had any discussions with any of the bodies in question about rail freight operations between the two ports, as this is a commercial matter for the freight operators and their customers.