Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the calculation of £1 billion savings identified on the new High Speed 2 M18/Eastern route which travels through Doncaster includes the upgrading to the existing line north of Sheffield Midland Station to form the northern loop; and what estimate he has made of the cost of that upgrade.

The estimated saving reflects expected costs relating to a junction to the north of Sheffield which would result in Sheffield Midland being served by a "loop". The cost saving does not reflect the cost of electrifying the section of the classic network to the north of Sheffield, which is assumed to be done before HS2 services commence. Electrifying the route to a northern junction back onto HS2 could be the first step in delivering a Northern Powerhouse network, creating the opportunity to connect Sheffield city centre with Leeds, York and Newcastle.