Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the (1) development, and (2) construction, cost of the Northern Powerhouse Rail project; and what is the expected year of completion of that project.

The Government will provide up to £45 billion of funding to deliver Northern Powerhouse Rail turn-up-and-go railway services between Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, Bradford, Sheffield and York.

This £45 billion does not constitute a formal cost estimate for the programme but is a funding cap that both demonstrates our commitment and ambition, whilst ensuring NPR remains an affordable and efficient programme. Three phases of delivery will see major construction work in the 2030s, continuing through to the 2040s.