Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has made a recent assessment of the effectiveness of the economic regulation by his Department of train operating companies.

Train operating companies are held to account by the Department for Transport under the terms of their franchise agreements. The competitive franchising process is designed to ensure value for money for passengers and taxpayers alike. The Office of Rail and Road regulates train operating companies in respect of their safety obligations, as well as certain consumer-facing duties such as the provision of information to passengers during disruption and the protection of the interests of passengers with disabilities.

The ongoing root and branch review of the railway led by Keith Williams is in the process of examining all aspects of the industry’s structure, which encompasses future regulatory and contractual arrangements. This review will report in the Autumn.