Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to page 36 of the paper South East Rail Franchise Stakeholder Briefing Document, how many additional carriages will be required to provide 10,000 extra places for passengers in the morning high peak hour on the Bexleyheath Line from (a) Woolwich Common and (b) Eltham; and if he will make a statement?

The South Eastern Invitation to Tender (ITT) requires, by December 2022, a minimum of 230 carriages to arrive into London Termini (either Charing Cross or Cannon Street) between 0700-1000 on the Bexleyheath line (which includes Eltham station). This is an increase of 18 carriages compared to today. The ITT also includes a requirement for higher passenger density trains with 2+2 seating and greater amounts of standing space. These changes significantly increase the capacity for passengers over today’s fleet.

Woolwich Common is not a station and is in proximity to the North Kent Line.