§ Ms WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the eligibility of proposals to provide for the opportunity to retain an option of securing rail passenger services following the reopening of the Caldon Low line for freight. [97570]
§ Mr. HillTo encourage investment in the rail passenger network we have provided the Franchising Director with £105 million of additional funding to be distributed over the next three years through the Rail Passenger Partnership (RPP) scheme. Sponsors of new passenger services on the Caldon Low Line which are not self-supporting could be eligible to apply for RPP funding. The Franchising Director would consider bids against his "Planning Criteria" which require that they should be consistent with our Integrated Transport White Paper and represent value for money.