Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what representations he has received on the legal basis for the proposed sale by National Express of the c2c franchise to Trenitalia; what discussions he has had with (a) Cabinet colleagues and (b) external stakeholders on that proposed sale; and if he will make a statement.

The Secretary of State has received a request from National Express Group to give his consent to a Change of Control for them to sell the Essex Thameside franchise to Trenitalia. The Secretary of State’s role is to give or withhold consent to the sale as provided for in the Franchise Agreement. This is at the Secretary of State’s discretion, and is exercised on a case by case basis. General guidance on process can be found on the GOV.UK website: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/rail-franchise-change-of-control-policy-statement/rail-franchise-change-of-control-policy-statement.

The Secretary of State has not discussed the proposed Change of Control externally.