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Written question asked by Shivani Raja (Conservative) on Thursday, 16 July 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 2 September 2026. It was answered by Keir Mather (Labour) on Wednesday, 2 September 2026 on behalf of the Department for Transport.

East Midlands Railway: Standards

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the reliability of East Midlands Railway services serving Leicester; and what steps she is taking to improve punctuality and reduce cancellations on the Midland Main Line.

Answer

The Department recognises that the recent reliability of East Midlands Railway (EMR) services serving Leicester and the Midland Main Line has not been adequate. The Department, through DFTO, has been clear to EMR that the current service is unacceptable and is working closely with EMR and industry partners to urgently improve performance.

From 31 August 2026, EMR will increase its Intercity services from 87% to 92% of the full planned timetable, this represents a significant step towards restoring services for passengers. This improved timetable has been designed around the trains currently available and will restore a number of previously withdrawn services, while improving overall reliability and resilience. It is expected to reduce planned weekly cancellations across the Intercity route by approximately 45% compared with the temporary timetable introduced in July. The enhanced timetable will also increase capacity on EMR’s Intercity services from 81% to 84% of the full planned timetable.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
19523
Session
2026-27
Grouped for answer
Yes
Subjects
Standards Leicester Midland main line East Midlands Railway
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk