Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with (a) Network Rail and (b) Govia Thameslink Railway on arrangements for replacement transport during the period of the scheduled work programme on the Brighton Mainline in October 2018 and February 2019; and what assessment he has made of the adequacy of those arrangements.

The Department continues to work closely with Network Rail and GTR to ensure that bus replacement services and other arrangements will be in place to minimise disruption to passengers during both blockades. That work is ongoing and kept under review.