Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he plans to publish the contractual terms of the directly awarded franchise agreement with First Great Western Limited to run passenger rail services on the Great Western line; whether the franchise agreement makes provision for the role of the guard on Intercity Express Programme (IEP) trains; and what provisions for catering services on IEP trains are included in that franchise agreement in (a) first and (b) standard class.

Following announcement of the Directly Awarded franchise on 23 March, the Franchise Agreement will be published on our website shortly, after the agreement has been through a redactions process consistent with the Railways Act and Freedom of Information Act.

Detailed provisions will be available upon publication.