Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress has been made on (a) scoping and (b) commissioning further feasibility work on whether the restoration of the Skipton to Colne link would generate enough freight and passenger traffic to be affordable.

Work is currently progressing and we expect to receive the results later this year to inform a decision as to whether the scheme should go to the next stage ‘develop’ of the Government’s Rail Network Enhancements Pipeline.

We are working closely with Transport for the North to assess the proposed scheme and to ensure that it can be affordable, will attract sufficient traffic, and is part of the right long-term solution for the cross Transpennine rail traffic.

This is part of our new approach to rail enhancements to ensure we address the needs of passengers and freight, and that funding commitments appropriately reflect the stage of development of schemes.