Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, which body will have the directing role in confirming operational timetables exploiting released capacity.

The Department specifies the services it seeks to procure through its contracts with operators. Trains operate on very restricted infrastructure and timetables must be carefully planned to operate around other services. The scheduling service is conducted by Network Rail. Network Rail is held to account by the Office of Rail and Road.

The Railways Bill consultation proposes that in future Great British Railways will have consolidated accountability for planning the use of its rail network.