Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Written Statement of 9 December 2015 HDVS 369 on rail franchising, when he expects to publish the new franchise agreements for the Northern and TransPennine Express franchise awards.

The draft franchise agreements are already published by the Department:

TransPennine Express (TPE): https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/417830/franchise-agreement.pdf

Northern: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/417807/northern-franchise-agreement.pdf

and the final agreements will be published after the agreed redactions have taken place.