Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he has taken to encourage the modernisation of train carriages.

The department sets out its requirements for passenger satisfaction in each franchise agreement. The passengers’ traveling environment contributes to passengers’ satisfaction scores.

As part of the franchise competition process bidders are asked to submit proposals for initiatives to enhance rolling stock to deliver consistently high standards for passengers. This may be through refurbishment of existing rolling stock or the procurement of new trains.