Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, to steps he is taking to help improve (a) speed and (b) capacity on the East Coast Main Line.

The Integrated Rail Plan commits to upgrading and improving line speeds and capacity on the East Coast Main Line. We have provided Network Rail with early-stage development funding to begin consideration of how these ambitious route-wide plans can be delivered as efficiently as possible.

This IRP activity will build upon the £1.2 billion East Coast Enhancements Programme – a collection of infrastructure upgrades across the route, helping to deliver journey time, reliability and capacity improvements.