Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department intends to convene a meeting of stakeholders involved in preparing for the commencement of East-West Rail passenger services.

The Department continues to work closely with Chiltern Railways and other partners to confirm a start date for the first East-West Rail services between Oxford and Milton Keynes Central via Winslow. For passenger services to commence, trains will need to have been modified and fully tested, future staffing arrangements to be put in place, and driver training will need to have been completed. A start date for the first East West Rail services will be announced as soon as it is possible to do so and engagement with stakeholders will proceed once appropriate.