Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress has been made on the electrification of the Barking to Gospel Oak line; what the expected date of completion of that work is; and if he will make a statement.

The detailed Network Rail GRIP 3 study of the engineering works required for electrification is expected to be completed in August. This will enable confirmation of cost, scope and delivery dates. The indicative completion date of Barking – Gospel Oak electrification is June 2017 with the electrified freight links to the route being complete by December 2018.