Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when her Department expects passenger train services to begin operating on the first section of East West Rail between Oxford and Milton Keynes.

The Department is working closely with Chiltern Railways and other partners to confirm a start date for the service. We are looking forward to commencing services as soon as all necessary authorisations and agreements are in place. Passenger services will commence once train testing and driver training have been completed.