Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps the Government is taking to increase capacity for rail freight in the Newcastle region.

I can confirm that Network Rail has recently completed an investment scheme to provide W12 gauge clearance (this allows rail freight services to handle larger containers on conventional freight wagons) between York North and Mossend on the East Coast Main Line through Newcastle. In addition, Network Rail have been developing a scheme to construct three new freight loops on the East Coast Main Line between Northallerton and Newcastle, which will help increase network capacity and performance for both freight and passenger services on the route. I also understand that by extending the opening times of certain signal boxes, Network Rail have help to facilitate a new biomass flow which is expected to start in summer 2017 from the Port of Tyne to Lynemouth power station.