Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the effect on the incumbent East Coast route operator's (a) revenue and (b) service level provision in the event that additional open access services are implemented on the East Coast mainline from 2021.

Train operator revenues and service level provisions are continually assessed under the terms of their Agreements with the Secretary of State.

The Government is fully committed to putting the interests of passengers at the heart of the railway and believe strongly in the importance of competition, as demonstrated by the highly competitive franchising system.

The Government supports open access in appropriate circumstances where it complements the competitive franchising system to develop new markets and where it provides innovation and benefits for passengers. However, it is important that the interests of taxpayers are fully protected.