Asked by: George Eustice (Conservative - Camborne and Redruth)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when his Department plans to commence negotiations with the First Group on the terms of an extension to the Great Western franchise after March 2020.
Answered by Andrew Jones
The current Great Western franchise agreement expires at 01.59am on 1 April 2020, having been extended to the fullest extent possible under its terms. In November 2017 the Secretary of State announced his intention to negotiate a new franchise agreement with the incumbent operator and discussions with FirstGroup are already under way.
Asked by: George Eustice (Conservative - Camborne and Redruth)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what representations he has received on the standard of catering services on the new Class 800 trains operated by First Group under the Great Western franchise.
Answered by Andrew Jones
The Department published the response to its consultation on the future of the Great Western franchise on 28 August 2018: (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/736146/great-western-rail-franchise-stakeholder-briefing-document.pdf). This shows ten areas of response from consultees about catering.
Asked by: George Eustice (Conservative - Camborne and Redruth)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the effect on passengers of the decision by the First Group to discontinue its buffet car facilities and replace them with a more limited trolley service.
Answered by Andrew Jones
The Department published the response to its consultation on the future of the Great Western franchise on 28 August 2018: (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/736146/great-western-rail-franchise-stakeholder-briefing-document.pdf). This shows ten areas of response from consultees about catering, including comments about both trolley services and buffet cars
Asked by: George Eustice (Conservative - Camborne and Redruth)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he plans to make it a condition of any future extension of the Great Western franchise that an operator must provide full buffet car catering facilities.
Answered by Andrew Jones
The Department published the response to its consultation on the future of the Great Western franchise on 28 August 2018: (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/736146/great-western-rail-franchise-stakeholder-briefing-document.pdf). Decisions on policy on the specification of the next Great Western franchise are informed by this consultation, which did not show strong demand for full buffet car catering facilities.