Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent progress has been made on the feasibility study for the restorations of the Skipton-Colne Railway; and what the timetable is for his receiving the final report from that study.

We are working closely with Transport for the North and relevant local transport authorities to evaluate the costs, benefits and funding options for reopening the line for passengers and freight, as part of a freight route across the Pennines. It builds on previous work commissioned by the local authorities and local campaign group. Work is in progress and we expect to receive the results later this year in the form of a Strategic Outline Business Case prepared in line with the Government’s new pipeline approach to rail enhancements.