Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the current contract for the Great Western franchise includes a requirement for a trolley-only catering service on trains.

The current Great Western franchise agreement is published on the Department’s website. The franchise agreement requires Great Western Railway to offer a trolley-based catering service for both standard and first class on some services operated by Intercity Express Trains, in line with Great Western Railway’s offer to the Department at the time the franchise agreement was negotiated.