Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of any additional cost of operating the rail services in the north of England in the next three years which will be more than the agreed payments to Arriva Rail North under the franchise that terminates at the end of February 2020.

The financial impact on public funds from the Northern rail franchise being taken into public ownership on 1 March 2020 has not yet been finalised. It will be informed by the 100 day review, which will be carried out under the public sector operator, which will assess the best way to deliver the commitments to passengers and to restore performance of Northern’s rail services.