Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether local transport authorities bidding for the (a) TransPennine Express and (b) Northern Rail franchises will have the freedom to specify (i) staffing levels, (ii) ticket office hours and (iii) driver-only specification of new rolling stock in the new franchise bids for each line.

We do not expect bids for the Northern or TransPennine Express franchises from Local Transport Authorities. This is because Section 25 of the Railways Act (1993 as amended) prevents any public sector operator, including Local Authorities from becoming a franchisee.