Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 10 January 2022 to Question 96861 on Leamside Line, for what reason the Parliamentary Under-Secretary does not plan to visit the Leamside line to discuss the case for its proposed reopening.

As stated in the Integrated Rail Plan, the case for re-opening the Leamside route would be best developed as part of any future city region settlement. The North East will be eligible for these settlements once appropriate governance is in place. I understand that the previous Rail Minister discussed with you the challenges around progressing this scheme at the present time.