Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department is taking steps to incentivise train operating companies to encourage more people to use railways.

The Secretary of State remains committed to working with industry to increase the number of people using the railway.

Under the current National Rail Contracts, operators are awarded a Performance Based Fee based on the standard of customer experience and operational performance that they deliver. This incentivises operators to improve the aspects of the railway that are most important for attracting more passengers.

We are currently working with industry to develop a stronger revenue incentive to build into National Rail Contracts at the earliest opportunity. This is intended to increase the commerciality of the railway and, in turn, grow passenger numbers.