Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate her Department has made of the potential impact of the delivery of Northern Powerhouse Rail on communities in the North of England.

Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) will transform the railways of the North of England. NPR will see journey times cut and passenger capacity increased between the North’s major economic centres, bringing people and places closer together.

The impact of different options for NPR on communities has been, and will remain, a key criteria in assessing different choices to deliver out commitment to it.

The Government will continue to work closely with leaders across the North as it confirms further details on this transformational programme.