Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to work with the rail franchises to ensure greater reliability for passengers.

The Department for Transport sets franchised train operators challenging targets for train punctuality and reliability, which are reinforced in more recent franchises by financial incentive mechanisms. The Department works closely with operators during the course of their franchises to monitor delivery and if necessary to ensure remedial action is taken if performance falls short of plan.