Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has made of the effect of the planned 2018 Thameslink timetable on intercity Midland Main Line services in respect of (a) journey times and (b) recovery during periods of perturbation.

Network Rail and the train operators are currently undertaking the detailed work to develop the 2018 timetable for the Midland Main Line and the industry is working together to minimise any impact that Thameslink may have on other services. This work will include identifying opportunities to improve current services. It will also involve the development of perturbation plans for the 2018 Midland Main Line timetable.