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Written question asked by Richard Holden (Conservative) on Wednesday, 15 April 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 20 April 2026 (named day). It was answered by Keir Mather (Labour) on Monday, 20 April 2026 on behalf of the Department for Transport.


East West Rail Line

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 25 March 2026 to Question 122594, on what basis her Department determined that the delayed appointment of Chiltern Railways as operator for East West Rail Services was caused by the General Election in July 2024, and whether her Department has commissioned an independent assessment of the cause of the delay to that appointment.

Answer

The appointment of the operator for the first phase of EWR services was paused during the General Election campaign in July 2024. This Government then appointed Chiltern Railways as the operator in March 2025. The department has not commissioned an independent assessment of this specific delay to the programme.


Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
127545
Session
2024-26
Related items
East West Rail Line
Wednesday, 25 March 2026
Written questions
House of Commons
Subjects
General elections Chiltern Railways East West Rail line
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk