Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 12 June 2019 to Question 260025, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of proposals in the High Speed One five-year asset management statement to increase track access charges for domestic rail services by 25 per cent on the financial viability of the South Eastern rail franchise.

I refer the Hon. Member to my previous answer of 12 June 2019. We do not expect High Speed 1 (HS1) to make changes that would impact the financial viability of the current or future Southeastern franchise.

The Government expects the independent Regulator, the Office of Rail and Road (ORR), to provide robust and rigorous challenge to HS1’s proposals as part of the Periodic Review process. This should include giving detailed consideration to affordability for operators and freight users.