Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have a policy of encouraging rail operators to convert first class carriages to standard class.

Government specifies high level capacity requirements and expects the industry to determine appropriate operational solutions based on local demand to deliver these requirements. Where appropriate, this may include providing additional seating capacity in standard class carriages through conversion of first class carriages. While it is not our general policy to require operators to convert first class carriages to standard class, the Government would expect operators to consider the appropriate mix of standard and first class provision in meeting local demand for their services. 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.