Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what his Department's timescales are for the introduction of a third fast train each hour between Sheffield and Manchester.

The Government is committed to upgrading the Hope Valley line which would help enable a third fast train between Manchester and Sheffield. The industry is in the early stages of planning next steps including delivery dates. The plan builds on the ongoing upgrades to the line due to complete this Spring which will deliver performance and capacity improvements for passengers and freight.