Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether there any penalty clauses in the event of early termination in the franchise for the East Coast Main Line, which was to have run to 2023.

The Virgin Trains East Coast Franchise Agreement, like other franchise agreements, includes provisions for contractual termination. The Franchisee’s Guarantor will be required to meet its financial commitments to the tax payer in full, in particular the provision of Parent Company Support, while the Franchisee will be required to meet its commitments including the Performance Bond.