Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress Northern has made on upgrading train sanding systems to improve braking performance since 17 December 2025; how many older units have been fitted with variable-rate sanding equipment to date; and whether the project remains on track for completion by autumn 2028.

Sanding systems installed per month since December 2025 are as follows:

December: 23

Jan: 0

Feb 0

March: 3

April: 0

Since 1 March 2020, 32 older Northern units have been fitted with variable rate sanding systems.

The sanding improvement programme continues to progress and remains on track for completion by autumn 2028.