Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the (a) cost and (b) effect on the environment of the development of bi-modal trains?

Rolling Stock is procured through a competitive process to achieve best value for money. The Government has been clear that bi-modes are likely to be more expensive than electric only trains, but do provide valuable flexibility. New diesels deliver an overall better environmental performance than existing diesel trains because they are subject to the latest emission standards but also offer the flexibility to operate in electric mode where there are electric wires.