Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential economic merits for the (a) North East and (b) UK of reopening the Leamside line.
The Government considers that the re-opening of the Leamside Line is best considered by North East partners as part of a future city region settlement, which remains under negotiation.
I expect to receive a locally-led business case in the Autumn, at which time my officials will consider the potential economic benefits of re-opening