Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will publish all communications from his Department to Network Rail on infrastructure improvements required on the Maidstone East line to deliver two Thameslink trains per hour between Maidstone East and Cambridge.

The Department regularly engages with Network Rail on a whole host of infrastructure matters.

We know how important it is to introduce the long awaited regular services between Maidstone East and the City as soon as possible. My officials continue to work with the industry to resolve the issues which have so far prevented a regular service from being introduced and to provide passengers in Maidstone with a regular all-day service to the City at the earliest opportunity. We will endeavour to arrange a meeting between my Honourable Friend, other relevant MPs and senior representatives from GTR and Network Rail to update on the situation and the work that is ongoing to find a solution as soon as practically possible in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.