Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the feasibility of options for maintaining the Great Western Railway night riviera sleeper service during engineering works.

Officials and Great Western Railway have considered several options for maintaining the Night Riviera sleeper service during upcoming works to upgrade signalling in Devon and Cornwall. Unfortunately, none of these were deemed feasible.

Together GWR and Network Rail were able to agree a plan that allows Sleeper services to continue to operate on Friday and Sunday nights as well as some select days in recognition of the key role this train plays for customers. The sleeper service will resume six nights a week as soon as completion of the work allows.