Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will bring forward proposals to restrict the use of bus replacement services for rail journeys only in the event of engineering works on rail lines.

The use of rail replacement buses is always regrettable when the passenger rightly expects a train to complete his or her journey. However, restricting the use of buses to planned engineering works only will deprive many people of transport when serious incidents occur, for example when the railway is closed to deal with the aftermath of an fatality or other operating incident. The Department will continue to work with the industry to limit the use of bus replacements services and therefore the impact on passengers. However, in a complex and growing network buses may offer the best solution to retain a consistent, reliable service for passengers in certain circumstances.