Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the feasibility of reinstating direct TransPennine Express services from Sunderland to Manchester Airport and Liverpool Lime Street.

As part of its franchise obligations, TransPennine Express are required to carry out a Route Strategy Study on network connectivity to Manchester Airport and other regional airports, to be completed by 30 September 2018. Service development recommendations resulting from the study will be considered against other proposals for implementation through the franchise Service Option Scheme Fund. TransPennine Express may recommend other service development proposals at any time during the scheme period.