Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, further to the Answer of the 24 August to Question 45915 with reference to Schedule 6.2, Clause 10.6 West Coast Rail Franchise Agreement, whether a figure was agreed on train driver recruitment and training plans with the Department.

Train driver recruitment and training plans were agreed in June 2020. These plans were significantly delayed for the duration of the COVID pandemic, as were recruitment and training across all operators.

Just under 100 additional drivers will enter formal service between April and December this year. Avanti is therefore planning a significant increase in services in December.