Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the First Transpennine Express accounts for 2018-19, filed at Companies House on 4 October 2019, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the finding that the operator’s (a) punctuality fell by 10 per cent ; (b) Moving Annual Average was 13 per cent below target and (c) customer satisfaction fell to 1 per cent below target over 2018-19.

The operational and customer performance of First Transpennine Express is monitored by the Rail North Partnership team on behalf of the DfT and Transport for the North (TfN). Performance is monitored against the requirements and benchmarks set out in its Franchise Agreement and any shortfalls are dealt with in accordance with its terms.