Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the specification was for (a) catering services, (b) guards' cabin and (c) catering staff accommodation in the mock-ups of Intercity Express Programme train sets.

The specification for catering services, guard’s cabin and catering staff accommodation was designed by the train operators. They specified a large kitchen for hot meals in first class and a trolley point for an at seat service to standard class customers. Two fold down seats and tables have been specified for the crew accommodation, again following input from the train operators. The IEP has a flexible interior that can be re-fitted to meet specific train operator requirements.