Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department plans to take to help fund the replacement of end-of-life rolling stock on South Western Railways. in the context of the planned establishment of Great British Railways.

South Western Railway has procured 750 new Class 701 carriages to replace older Class 455 units. The first trains have entered passenger service, with a gradual roll out expected over the next two years.

The Government is in the early stages of formulating a rolling stock strategy. Once established, Great British Railways will take the strategy forward providing a long-term approach to future rolling stock needs and helping to secure better value from the private rolling stock market.