Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she is taking steps to help ensure that Memoranda of Understanding between train operators in Europe support UK operators to benefit from cross-border collaboration, network interoperability, and route expansion including utilisation of HS1 services in Kent.

We have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Germany and with Switzerland to pave the way for further direct rail connections to mainland Europe

As part of these agreements, we have established formal working groups with both countries, involving relevant authorities from both government and industry, to tackle the barriers to enabling direct international rail services, including technical barriers and requirements for border and security controls. These working groups include discussions on all international stations in the UK including Kent stations.

Separately, we are supporting an industry-led working group to establish the next steps required to remobilise the Kent stations on the High Speed 1 line to facilitate the aspirations of potential new entrants to serve these stations in future.