Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to require rail franchisees to provide part-time season tickets; what assessment he has made of the increase in demand for part-time season tickets following increases in home working in relation to the covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement.

The Government recognises that the COVID-19 pandemic has caused a fundamental change in working patterns and that this could have long-term effects. The Department is commissioning research and analysis to understand future commuting patterns and potential demand for more flexible commuting fares.

More immediately, the Department is working with industry to explore already available options for flexible commuters, such as carnets, and what steps could be taken quickly to make these as useful and convenient for passengers as possible.