Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure that train operators have enough staff to cover rotas without relying on voluntary overtime.

Disruption to rail services has been further exacerbated by cancellations due to industrial action and action short of strike. Several outdated working practices remain in the industry and the Government recognises that the day-to-day running of the railway needs to change to modernise working practices, deliver a rail network that moves to a more secure financial footing, whilst meeting the needs and expectations of today’s passengers. Some train operating companies already have Sundays and Bank Holidays in the working week or committed Sundays (where drivers are paid overtime but must work them) as part of their plan to deliver a 7-day railway.