Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will take steps to improve the train service between both Cheltenham and Gloucester and London; and if he will make a statement.

In 2019 an improved level of service will be introduced onto the London to Gloucester and Cheltenham route. The current two-hourly service of through trains with a shuttle from Swindon every other hour will be replaced by a through service to London every hour operated by the new Intercity Express Trains currently being introduced onto the Great Western network.

Before this timetable change, the phased introduction of Intercity Express Trains and withdrawal of the older High Speed Trains should see the first of these new trains introduced on the London to Cheltenham via Gloucester route this summer.

The Department is currently consulting on priorities for the Great Western franchise after the current franchise expires in 2020 and will carefully consider the responses to that consultation.