Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what requirements he places in franchise agreements with train-operating companies for minimum staffing levels.

The Department does not generally specify staffing levels for rail franchises, as it is up to the relevant train operator to ensure it has sufficient staff in place to provide the services to which it is committed. However, the franchise agreement does contain provision limiting the amount of change in staffing levels, which can be made in the final year of the franchise without the consent of the Secretary of State.

We aim to work with the industry, and recognise that a growing railway needs more customer-facing staff.