Railways: Private Sector

(asked on 18th April 2018) - View Source

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will set out which sectors of the rail industry benefitted from the £3.5 billion of private sector investment in the last four years; and if he will make a statement.


This question was answered on 23rd April 2018

The rail sector has seen significant private sector investment across rolling stock, stations, track and signalling. The majority of this has been investing in new rolling stock. For example, South Western Railway franchise will deliver 750 new vehicles costing in the region of £900 million, the East Anglia franchise 1043 new vehicles costing in the region of £1.4 billion and West Midlands Trains 413 new vehicles costing in the region of £680 million.

In March we launched a call for ideas for market-led proposals to enhance the railway, encouraging promoters to bring forward proposals which are financially credible without government support.

Reticulating Splines