Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Autumn Statement 2014, if he will make it a requirement of the new Northern Rail and Trans-Pennine rail franchises that Pacer trains must be replaced by different rolling stock; and by what date he plans for Pacer trains to be replaced by different rolling stock on those franchises.

TransPennine Express does not operate Pacer trains and the Government is clear that Pacer units will be replaced in the new Northern franchise. The details of how this will be implemented are being considered as part of the specification for the future franchises, which will be published early in the New Year. We expect that the rolling stock used for the Pacer replacement will be a matter for bidders for the future Northern franchise to address in their bids.