Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 28 November 2017 to Question 115572, whether (a) the Great Western Intercity Express Programme bi-mode fleet and (b) the Class 319 flex bi-mode train will have (i) faster or (ii) slower diesel acceleration than the units they will replace.

a) The Great Western Intercity Express Programme trains have a different acceleration profile to the High Speed Trains they are replacing. Their performance means they are able to deliver the current timetable and associated journey times and once the planned upgrade programme is complete and the full fleet is in service, are expected to deliver a new timetable with significant passenger benefits including improved frequencies and reduced journey times.

b) The Class 319s can run at 100mph in electric mode and are designed to have very similar diesel acceleration to the 75mph units they will replace.