To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has made of Network Rail's progress on delivering the Manchester to Preston electrification project; when he expects that project to be completed; and whether that project has advanced to GRIP 3 single option selection.

The electrification of Manchester to Preston comprises many projects.　 For example, Network Rail are currently enlarging the Farnworth Tunnel to enable electrification between Manchester to Preston and that project will be completed by October 2015.　 The majority of elements of the other projects have advanced to at least GRIP 3 single option development and only a very small number remain to be finalised. This is expected to be achieved for these elements by the end of August 2015.