Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 14 April 2026 to Question 124216 on East West Rail, what her Department’s latest estimate is of the date by which the trains to be used on East West Rail services will be (a) fully modified and (b) fully tested.

The department is working closely with Chiltern Railways and partners to confirm that all the elements to announce a start date for the first EWR services are in place. Chiltern has been preparing for the start of services, including driver recruitment and training.