Railways: East Coast Main Line Debate
Full Debate: Read Full DebateDepartment: Department for Transport
Lord Popat
Main Page: Lord Popat (Conservative - Life peer)Department Debates - View all Lord Popat's debates with the Department for Transport
(6 years, 8 months ago)
Lords ChamberRead Full debate Read Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
Baroness Sugg
My Lords, the timetable is not dependent on the decision made between the two options. I understand there has been a delay to the timetable, for which I apologise. The operator and Network Rail are working through the options and are looking to publish it as soon as they possibly can.
Lord Popat (Con)
My Lords, will the Minister please tell us what will happen to the premium payments from future operators of the east coast franchise?
Baroness Sugg
My Lords, whichever option for running the franchise to 2020 is chosen, the Government will continue to receive premium payments. As I have said, from 2020 there will be a new public/private partnership on the east coast. That will be subject to a competitive process and will include appropriate contributions paid by the private partner to the Government. The Government will continue to receive premium payments but I am afraid I am not able to give an exact figure at this time. It is important to reiterate that this is a successful and profitable line, and it will continue to deliver revenue to the Government.