Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what target for reducing cancellations has his Department set for Avanti West Coast as part of the deal for keeping that rail contract.

The Department has been clear that the service for passengers on the West Coast is not good enough. Ministers and officials meet Avanti and First Trenitalia senior management regularly to review Avanti’s progress against its service restoration plan, holding them accountable for matters within their control. The recent short-term contract extension allows Avanti an opportunity to deliver a reliable timetable for passengers. The Department will consider its performance, including the number of cancelations attributable to Avanti, before making any long-term decision on the operation of the route.