Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential for running passenger trains on double track rail lines used for freight trains in the Birmingham and Black Country area.

I have not undertaken an assessment of the potential use by passenger services of freight routes in Birmingham and the Black Country. Network Rail is currently reviewing the West Midlands and Chilterns Route Utilisation Strategy, published on 27 May 2011, to assess any changes in the level of passenger and freight demand.