Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with South Western Railway prior to the launch of the company’s public consultation on plans to reduce its services; whether they requested that South Western Railways reduce its operating costs in any such discussions; and what assessment they have made of the impact of the proposed reduction of services on (1) encouraging civil servants to return to working in their offices, and (2) the environment.

The Department has worked with South Western Railway and Network Rail on the proposals in the consultation document. I await a report from South Western Railway and Network Rail on the outcomes of this consultation.