Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 7 February 2024 to Question 12442 on Cross Country Trains: Overcrowding, what steps his Department is taking to tackle (a) overcrowding, (b) delays and (c) cancellations on Cross Country rail services.

(a) The Department has authorised CrossCountry to acquire additional trains when they become available from another operator. CrossCountry is also authorised to deploy a number of these trains in 2024 if they can be made available. (b)(c) Train service performance by CrossCountry over recent months has been affected by heavy rain and storms that impact on railway infrastructure causing delays and cancellations, although they are held to account for factors under their control.