Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate her Department has made of the completion date of Northern Powerhouse Rail.

The Government is progressing planning and design works to support future delivery of our plans for northern rail connectivity.

As set out by the Chancellor at the Budget, the Transpennine Route Upgrade between York and Manchester, via Leeds and Huddersfield, will transform northern rail connectivity and lay the ground for Northern Powerhouse Rail.

We are thoroughly reviewing the position we have inherited and will set out further details in due course.