Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to support Network Rail achieve and sustain journey time reductions on the Far North Rail Line from Inverness to Thurso and Wick; and if he will make increased funding available to the Scottish Government for investment in that line.
Scottish Ministers have substantial executively devolved powers in relation to the railways in Scotland. This allows them to determine matters such as the level of service and fares policy. In addition, Scottish Ministers have executive powers over rail infrastructure, including the responsibility for specifying and funding the outputs they wish Network Rail to deliver in Scotland. Improvements to the Far North Line are therefore a matter for the Scottish Government.