To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what his assessment is of the effect that allocation of vehicles to Northern Rail from the high level output specification will have on the level of carbon dioxide emissions of the Northern Rail fleet. (289900)

In July, the Department for Transport announced a major new electrification programme which radically affects the requirements for train rolling stock over the next decade. In particular, there will be far less need for diesel trains and a greater requirement for electric trains which cause significantly lower levels of carbon dioxide emissions.

The Department will publish a new rolling stock plan in the autumn, taking account of these changed circumstances. It will not be possible to provide an assessment of the impact of additional rolling stock on carbon dioxide emissions until allocations are finalised and contracted.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what the age profile is of the (a) Northern Rail fleet and (b) national rail fleet; and what the age profile of the Northern Rail fleet will be when it has received its allocation of high level output specification vehicles. (289901)

The average age profile of the Northern fleet and National fleet respectively as of April 2009 is 20.03 years and 18.42 years. The average age of the Northern fleet when it has received its allocation of high level output specification vehicles will depend on the outcome of discussions on additional capacity that are currently taking place with Northern.