Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 6 March 2026 to Question 116586, what estimate her Department has made of the level of fees not being paid to former private sector train operating companies as a result of the public ownership programme managed by DFT Operator Limited since July 2024; and what the cost has been of the increase in headcount at DFT Operator Limited since 1 January 2024, including (i) salaries, (ii) employer pension contributions and (iii) employer National Insurance contributions.

Public ownership will save taxpayers up to an estimated £110-150 million every year on fees currently paid to privately-owned train operating companies, once all services currently delivered under contract with the Department have transferred.

The increase in total payroll costs at DfT Operator Limited between 01/01/24 to 28/02/26 was:

Salary - £6,160,470.90

NI - £869,225.19

Pension - £621,414.96

Total - £7,651,111.05