Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions (a) he, (b) his predecessors, (c) current and former Ministers and (d) officials have had with GTR on making available an adequate level of rolling stock for the Thameslink service on the Maidstone East line.

Officials held a number of discussions from late 2018 until late 2019 with GTR and within the cross-industry group, the Thameslink Timetable Industry Readiness Board, to consider rolling stock provision for a Thameslink Maidstone East service. Ministers have not met with GTR specifically to discuss rolling stock provision for a Thameslink Maidstone East service, but do regularly engage with GTR on a wide range of issues.

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.