Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions has he had with rail industry stakeholders on the effect of ending the transition period without a deal with EU.

Department for Transport officials have worked closely and constructively with the rail industry since the EU Referendum and with a particular focus, over the last 12 months, in ensuring they are preparing effectively and appropriately for 1 January 2021. Officials hold regular senior roundtable meetings with rail trade bodies, weekly and have fortnightly individual engagement with key parties. Rachel Maclean MP, Minister responsible for EU Transition and Future Relationship, has also met with members of the “Rail EU Stakeholder Roundtable” as recently as 17 November 2020.

We are also engaging with government departments on cross-cutting areas important to the rail industry, providing written comprehensive guidance regularly and meetings, reaching out to as many businesses within the rail sector as possible, to ensure that they can operate smoothly following the end of the transition period.

In addition to this, we have published formal guidance on running domestic and cross-border rail operations from 1 January.