Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have subsidised, or are considering subsidising, the costs of rail operators in converting first class carriages to standard class.

Government specifies capacity requirements at a high level and seeks input from the industry as to cost effective and timely ways in which this can be delivered. The industry is free to consider initiatives which meet the overall requirements of the Department for Transport's specification. This may include providing additional seating capacity in standard class carriages through conversion of first class carriages. In the case of the recent Virgin West Coast and First Great Western Direct Awards, the Government has contracted with the operators to provide additional capacity in this way.