Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 7 September 2026 to Question 26119 on East West Rail Line, what is her Department's latest estimated date for the commencement of passenger services between Oxford and Milton Keynes; and what was the estimated commencement date on (a) 1 January 2026 and (b) 1 July 2026.

The Department continues to work closely with Chiltern Railways and other partners to confirm a start date for the first East West Rail services between Oxford and Milton Keynes. Before services between Oxford and Milton Keynes commence, not only have physical alterations to the trains been necessary, but also software and systems changes remain to be completed. Driver training will need to have been completed. Winslow Station also needs to be fully handed over, and future staffing arrangements also remain to be agreed.