Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how short-formed services are accounted for in performance metrics compared with cancellations and delays.

The Department expects train operators to provide appropriate capacity in response to expected demand, particularly during peak periods, and to minimise short formations wherever possible, only using them where this is judged to be in passengers' overall interests and helps maintain wider service delivery.

The Department's Short Formations metric is calculated by comparing the capacity operated against a benchmark level of planned capacity, which is agreed by each operator and reviewed at the twice-yearly timetable changes. The services in scope for the metric vary by operator. For some operators it covers all services, while for others it focuses on those where short formations would have the greatest passenger impact, such as weekday peak services.

For public sector operators, the Short Formations metric is a Key Performance Indicator reported each four-weekly rail period. For operators holding National Rail Contracts, the Short Formations metric forms part of the operational performance regime. This regime also includes TOC-on-Self delay minutes and TOC-on-Self cancellations, which measure performance factors within the operator's control, as well as whole-industry measures – All Cancellations, Time to 3 punctuality and Time to 15 punctuality. Performance against these metrics forms part of the calculation of the performance-based fee payable to private sector operators.