Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Sugg on 22 January (HL4453), what evidence there is that train franchisees plan for known special events and match capacity with anticipated demand.

The Department for Transport requires franchisees to plan for special events and make the best use of the capacity available to provide services where they would not ordinarily be provided in the regular timetable. This includes detailed planning with event organisers, local authorities and emergency services.

Train operators regularly provide additional capacity and enhanced station management processes to manage large crowds, for example Great Western Railway’s management of demand for racing events at Cheltenham or the Glastonbury festival.