Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his oral contribution of 4 June 2018, Official Report, column 51, on what date GTR personally assured him that it was ready to implement the timetable changes; and whether he requested information or data from GTR to evidence that assurance.

The Secretary of State was reassured by senior GTR figures in early May 2018 that they were confident they would be able to implement the new train service.

However, it became clear at the 11th hour that GTR were unable to deliver all planned services. We are in regular discussions with Network Rail and GTR. I have reiterated that the disruption suffered by passengers is wholly unacceptable, and the priority is to give passengers greater certainty over which services will run.