Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what level of service Northern Rail is required to provide on the Pontefract Line between Leeds and Pontefract as part of its franchise agreement.

Rail services between Leeds and Pontefract are part of the Leeds-Knottingley and Goole routes. In December 2021, the timetable service level was broadly one train per hour on each route. As a result of Omicron, a number of services were withdrawn to ensure a consistent and reliable service. The Department, along with operators and Network Rail agrees timetables twice a year, ensuring that the level of service is appropriate to passenger demand.

The operator is currently engaging with the Department and the Rail North Partnership on its post-May 2022 timetable. As we recover from the pandemic, we want to provide a reliable and resilient service that has sufficient capacity to meet actual demand and provide value for money to the taxpayer.