Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether rolling stock contracts will be included in the Government’s zero-based capital review to ensure Departmental procurement and rail franchising delivers the greatest benefit to UK economy and boost productivity.

Rolling stock procurement is undertaken through fair and open competition, usually via a train operating company as part of their franchise commitments. Rolling stock contracts are not direct departmental capital spending and we therefore do not expect them to form part of any zero-based capital review. However, the William’s Rail Review will consider rail franchising as part of the root and branch review of the railway to ensure that rail delivers benefits for passengers and taxpayers.