Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect the recent decline of season tickets sales will have on the current franchise model.

The Department frequently meets Train Operating Companies (TOCs) to discuss their financial performance. We also have a specialist central team which monitors the financial performance of TOCs. In both cases we consider the impact of changes in revenue sources, including season ticket sales.

The Department’s franchise model contains a range of options for revenue risk-share mechanisms. We select the most appropriate mechanism based on the circumstances of each franchise we let, including taking account of the changing type of ticket sales in that franchise.