Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if (a) peak and (b) off peak direct inter-city services to Sheffield, Derby and Nottingham will continue to stop at (i) Luton, (ii) Bedford and (iii) Wellingborough as a result of the proposed changes to the East Midlands rail network.

No firm decision on rail services in the next East Midlands franchise has yet been taken. The next franchise starts in August 2019. Invitations to Tender are due to be issued to potential bidders in April 2018. All options for rail services in the next franchise are subject to analysis of the potential benefits and our consultation with stakeholders, which closed on 11 October.