Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 29 June 2026 to Question 12582 on Railways, how many recommendations from train operating companies to reduce services in the planned timetable have been (a) approved and (b) declined by her Department since 5 July 2024, broken down by train operating company.

The Department does not hold this information centrally. The Department expects all operators to plan and deliver services that respond to evolving passenger demand in a way that provides value for money for taxpayers. This may involve reduced services, or station calls where demand is expected to be lower but equally enhanced services at times and places that demand is higher.

The Department expects operators to publish such changes in the planned timetable. Such changes may be part of a package of wider changes to improve the overall service provided, for example London Northeastern Railway’s December 2025 timetable changes, or in response to expected seasonal demand reductions for example the temporary reductions to some Avanti West Coast services during the summer holidays when fewer people are expected to be travelling on those trains. Changes to train services may also be driven through the Network Rail-managed industry timetable development process, where Network Rail may need to amend train operator plans to best meet the service aspirations of all operators. This process is independent of Government.