Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 17 June 2015 to Question 2340, on which journeys on which lines passengers can expect a 15 minute journey time improvement as a result of the introduction of (a) bi-mode IEP and (b) electric IEP trains.

Train Operating Companies are responsible for the timetabling of passenger services. Passengers can expect circa 15 minute journey time improvements on the Great Western (GWML) and East Coast (ECML) routes into Paddington and King’s Cross, along with increased frequencies of trains which I expect to be achieved from both fleets.

In addition, the 9-car trainsets on the ECML have 18% more seats than the InterCity 225 trains that they are replacing. The programme will increase the number of seats in the morning peak in to Kings Cross (ECML) by 28%, and by 40% in to Paddington (GWML).