Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the effect of the specifications in the rail passenger franchise directly awarded to West Coast Trains Ltd on 19 June 2014 on levels of (a) on-train, (b) station and (c) ticket office staffing; and what discussions on the franchise specifications (i) his Department and (ii) Virgin Trains has had with trades unions representing staff working on the West Coast Main Line.

Staffing levels are a commercial matter for Virgin Trains. The Department has not engaged with trades unions representing staff working on the West Coast Main Line regarding the franchise specification of the recent direct award to West Coast Trains Limited.