Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether future franchising specifications will encourage the carriage of small freight, parcels and letters on passenger trains.

Her Majesty’s Government considers the needs of freight operators when developing passenger rail franchise specifications. While there are no specific measures included in current specifications relating to the carriage of small freight, parcels and letters on passenger trains, the Department for Transport is carrying out research into how better use can be made of spare capacity on trains. We will consider the outcome of this research in the design of future rail franchise specifications.