Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the updated interim report on the Trans-Pennine tunnel strategic study published on 18 August, what is the maximum length of tunnel being considered; what assumptions are being made as to the hourly maximum capacity of HGV and car traffic that such a tunnel could carry safely; what rules about spacing between vehicles, maximum speeds are being considered, and how these compare with current and planned rules in the Mont Blanc and Gotthard road tunnels; and whether they will include in the study the option of building a rail tunnel and operating a rail freight shuttle for heavy goods vehicles to piggyback on rail wagons.

The results of the study have been published and are available on the gov.uk website, including potential routes and tunnel lengths, and consideration of alternative rail options. Detailed arrangements for operation of the tunnel will be developed at the appropriate point in the design process.