Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to help ensure that passengers receive clear communications regarding transport changes over the Christmas and New Year period 2022-23.

We expect very low levels of planned services to run across the Christmas and New Year period, with considerable regional variation. While generally few rail services run during bank holidays, passengers’ travel will regrettably be affected. Passenger communications are being led by industry, which is running an ongoing public information campaign throughout the Christmas and early New Year period. This has clear messaging for strike and non-strike days deployed across broadcast, print and social media, and includes information displayed at stations. Passengers are being advised to travel only if absolutely necessary on rail strike days and on Christmas Eve and advised to plan ahead and check first and last train times. Overall awareness of ongoing strike/industrial action is at 94 per cent (source: Yonder - independent market research organisation - carried out 9 - 11 December 2022).