Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will discuss with London Midland Trains steps to improve (a) punctuality, (b) reliability, (c) greater notification of cancellations and (d) provision of sufficient drivers for off-peak and weekend services.

The Department monitors each train operator's overall performance and there are clear actions set out in the franchise agreement should performance drop below what is expected. This regular monitoring includes monthly meetings with their senior management where performance figures are scrutinised and challenged. After the concerns in the Autumn of 2012, London Midland implemented a number of remedial measures which included a recruitment programme for new drivers, and this recruitment is ongoing.

The Office of Rail Regulation initiated a code of practice that was placed in the obligations in the licences of all train companies, station operators and Network Rail to ensure the whole rail network works together in compliance with an industry Code of Practice to deliver the best possible passenger information.