Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 13 November to Question 111766, whether the (a) bi-mode Intercity Express trains on Great Western and (b) Class 319 flex trains on Windermere will be slower than the trains they replace in (i) diesel mode or (ii) electric mode.

a) The Great Western Intercity Express Programme bi-mode fleet has been specified to ensure they can deliver the timetable operated by current diesel trains. Once the current planned electrification programme is complete the IEP trains will operate an enhanced timetable with shorter journey times. At this point, passengers will see the introduction of the full capacity benefits and a reduced journey time of up to 15 minutes between London and South Wales.

b) The Class 319 flex, otherwise known as a Class 769, is a bi-mode train, adapted from a former electric-only train which will be able to run under its own power as well.

The trains can run at 100mph in electric mode and are designed to have very similar diesel acceleration to the 75mph units they will replace.

Converting these trains will enable passengers in the Lake District to benefit from double the number of direct services to Manchester Airport from May 2018. The train operator, Northern, will be responsible for determining the precise timetables under which these trains will run.