Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to incentivise train users to use Thameslink services to alleviate over-crowding on all East Midlands services to and from London.

The Government and rail industry are investing in the biggest improvement in rail travel since the Victorian era, including through the Thameslink Programme and the upgrade of the Midland Main Line.

These programmes will improve rail journeys for passengers using the Midland Main Line to travel into London St Pancras:

o From May 2018, passengers between Bedford and London will benefit from more frequent Thameslink trains, with more seats.

o The Thameslink programme will also provide improved connections from Bedford to Farringdon for Crossrail as well as London Bridge.

o Once the electrification to Corby is complete in 2020, passengers at Corby, Kettering, Wellingborough, Bedford, Luton and Luton Airport Parkway will benefit from a new, dedicated service into London St Pancras. The electric trains will be longer, with more seats.

The rail industry is working together to do all we can to improve services for passengers and will to work hard to keep disruption to a minimum.