Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions his Department had with Northern Rail on the use of the Class 37 rolling stock on the Carlisle-Barrow-Lancaster rail line.

The Department worked with both Northern and Transpennine Express (TPE) to develop a scheme to provide additional capacity in North-west England, which includes the use of the locomotives – and coaches – on the Cumbrian Coast line. The rolling stock provider, DRS, has chosen to use Class 37 locomotives. These trains provide additional capacity on this popular route and a new early morning service from Carlisle to Sellafield and Barrow-in-Furness. The project has enabled capacity to be increased on many TPE train services between Blackpool and Manchester.