Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of changes to revenue protection and collection on the Northern Rail and TransPennine Express franchises in the last five years.

It is for operators to manage revenue protection as part of their day to day business.

We require reports from some of the train operators which contain information on the level of ticketless travel and their revenue protection activities. However this information is commercially confidential.

Northern Rail has increased the number of revenue protection staff at stations since April 2014 to further reduce ticketless travel. Ticket gates are being installed as part of the significant project to upgrade Manchester Victoria station.