Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the holders of the South Western Railway franchise regarding the operation of the London to Portsmouth line; and when they expect that timetable to return to pre-pandemic regularity.

South Western Railway will introduce a new timetable from Monday 21^st February, which will reinstate services to pre-Omicron levels including the London to Portsmouth line. This follows reducing numbers of Omicron-related staff shortages and growing numbers of passengers returning to the railway.