Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to minimise disruption of the rail network over the Christmas and New Year period.

We expect approximately 20 per cent of planned services to run on strike days announced for the Christmas and New Year periods, with considerable regional variation. While generally few rail services run during bank holidays, passengers’ travel will be affected.

Network Rail has planned an ambitious £120 million engineering works programme for the Christmas period, aimed at maintaining and renewing track assets. Although the industrial action will impact planned works, Network Rail is working to ensure as many projects as possible can be completed. Passengers may see lower levels of service on non-strike days between Christmas and New Year, to ensure critical works can progress as planned.