Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate her Department has made of the long-term (a) economic, (b) environmental and (c) operational costs of pausing the next phase of the electrification of the Midland Main Line.

Midland Main Line electrification was considered as part of the Spending Review, which prioritised investment across all government spending, taking account of business cases and affordability. Continuing electrification to Nottingham and Sheffield is lower value for money, due to rising costs and as a consequence of the environmental and operational benefits already delivered through electrification of the route. Electrification between Kettering and Wigston was completed earlier this year and, together with enhancements south of Bedford, will enable the bi-mode intercity services being introduced by East Midlands Railway to operate using electric traction.