Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress has been made in introducing new rolling stock on the Midland Main Line and when the full fleet of new trains is expected to be operational.

Delays from the train manufacturer have resulted in East Midlands Railway’s new Hitachi Class 810 trains being delivered into passenger service three years late. 13 Class 810 trains have been delivered by Hitachi Rail and accepted by EMR, with 20 trains still to be delivered and accepted. The latest revised delivery programme from Hitachi has all trains delivered to EMR during 2027.

DFT Operator, EMR and Hitachi are working closely together to ensure the remaining Class 810 trains are delivered into passenger service, and the full EMR intercity timetable restored, as soon as possible. Lord Hendy recently held a roundtable with EMR and Hitachi to discuss these issues, to which all relevant Members of Parliament, including the Hon. Member for Harborough, Oadby and Wigston, were invited.