Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 26 January 2015 to Question 221670, how many eight-carriage fixed-set Thameslink trains will be purchased for the Wimbledon link to replace the 12-carriage trains in the original plans; what the savings will be arising from that purchase; and if he will make a statement.

The Invitation to Tender for the Thameslink Rolling Stock Project, issued in 2008, included the requirement for the train manufacturer and maintainer to build sufficient 8-car trains to replace those being operated by the Thameslink operator on Wimbledon services. As a result, there is no requirement to purchase additional trains for Wimbledon services.

The decision to continue Wimbledon services through the core had no impact on the rolling stock procurement.