TRANSPENNINE EXPRESS FRANCHISE DIRECT SERVICES BETWEEN EDINBURGH AND LIVERPOOL

That this House notes the Government's intention to publish the Invitations to Tender for the new TransPennine Express franchise in the first quarter of 2015; calls for changes to be included in the specifications for the TransPennine Express franchise to increase capacity on services between Scotland and North West England; further notes that all journeys between Edinburgh or Glasgow and Liverpool currently require changing trains, and in some cases stations; and calls for the new franchise specifications to include direct services between these major population, economic and cultural centres.