The Department for Transport does not hold information relating to any backlog of maintenance for the rolling stock fleet of each train operating company. Responsibility for identifying, managing, and undertaking rolling stock maintenance requirements rests with train operators, rolling stock leasing companies and maintenance providers through their contractual asset management arrangements.

Information on individual rolling stock defects and the status of onboard facilities is held by train operators and rolling stock maintainers as part of their operational maintenance and asset management arrangements. Where toilets are fitted on board trains, the Department expects train operators to work with those maintaining them, to minimise any lack of availability and deliver facilities that passengers expect.

The Department does not require accessibility features such as Harrington Humps to be relocated solely because new rolling stock is introduced. However, when new trains are introduced, operators and infrastructure managers are expected to ensure that stations and rolling stock remain compatible and meet applicable accessibility requirements, and this may include assessing whether platform modifications or the repositioning of accessibility features are necessary at specific locations.

The department monitors short formations based on the passenger capacity of the trains rather than the number of carriages. Attached is data for the number of short - formed services and the percentage based on what is monitored for each operator. Please note that the percentages are not comparable and do not represent the total number of services for each operator.

The Class 810 Aurora fleet is being delivered and maintained under contractual arrangements involving East Midlands Railway (EMR), Hitachi Rail and Rock Rail. Those agreements include contractual obligations relating to train availability and performance, together with associated performance and remedy mechanisms where contractual requirements are not met. The detailed terms of those arrangements, including any compensation or liquidated damages provisions, are commercially confidential and are not publicly disclosed.

The Department has been clear to Hitachi Rail that its management of the Class 810 fleet programme has been unacceptable. Delivery of the new Aurora trains to EMR has been significantly delayed, with the first train entering passenger service around three years later than originally planned. The Department expects Hitachi Rail to improve both the rate of fleet introduction and the operational performance of the trains already in service.

Hitachi Rail is also responsible for the day-to-day maintenance of EMR’s existing Class 222 Meridian trains, which have experienced significant performance issues this summer. The Department expects Hitachi and EMR to work together to rapidly improve the reliability of these trains.

Alex Hynes, Chief Executive Officer of Department for Transport Operator, meets Hitachi Rail regularly and is pressing the company for urgent improvements to both the delivery pipeline and fleet performance so that EMR can realise the full benefits of the new Aurora fleet. The Department continues to monitor EMR's delivery of services and performance obligations under its National Rail Contract.

The first Class 810 trains entered passenger service in December 2025 and entry into service is continuing. Delays from the train manufacturer, Hitachi Rail, including technical issues, are currently affecting the rollout of new trains to East Midlands Railway.

The Department does not hold a centrally collated dataset showing how many passenger services operated by each train operating company were affected by defective passenger doors in each month since July 2024. Information on rolling stock defects, including door-related faults, data are recorded and managed by Network Rail and train operators.

The Department does not hold data on the number of services cancelled because of rolling stock failures. The Department does hold information on short formations. However, the data is recorded differently across operators and is not sufficiently comparable to enable a robust assessment of which operator had the highest proportion of services operated with fewer carriages than planned. The Department expects train operators to provide appropriate capacity to meet anticipated passenger demand, including through the effective deployment and maintenance of rolling stock.

The Department does not hold figures for the number of faults that have occurred on Avanti West Coast’s Class 805 and Class 807 Evero trains since their introduction into passenger service. However, the fleet performance metrics which are monitored by the Department show that the reliability of both fleets has steadily improved since they entered service, continues to do so, and is line with expectations for such fleets.

The Department expects train operators to provide appropriate capacity to meet anticipated passenger demand, including through the effective deployment and maintenance of rolling stock. However, the Department is keen to ensure that the causes of short-formed services are understood and that plans are in place at all train operating companies to address these and improve performance, and the Department regularly engages DfT Operator to monitor the effectiveness of measures being implemented.

The Department expects train operators to provide appropriate capacity to meet anticipated passenger demand, including through the effective deployment and maintenance of rolling stock. While the Department does not hold data on rolling stock availability, or the number of services cancelled because of rolling stock failure, it does hold information on short formations. However, this data is recorded differently across operators, and is not sufficiently comparable to enable a robust assessment of which operator had the highest proportion of services operated with fewer carriages than planned.

The Department monitors South Western Railway’s (SWR) performance and fleet availability through its regular contractual and operational oversight arrangements, including services on the Salisbury to Exeter route. SWR plans its West of England services on the basis that some Class 158 and 159 trains will be unavailable for maintenance, overhaul or faults, with availability also affected by unplanned repairs and the availability of replacement parts. SWR seeks to mitigate any resulting impact on passengers through train formation changes where possible and continues to work with suppliers and maintenance teams to improve fleet availability and reliability.

The Department does not collect information on the principal causes of short-formed rail services and has not undertaken separate modelling of rolling stock availability. Train operators are responsible for service delivery and are best placed to identify the immediate causes of short formations, which can arise for a range of operational reasons, including rolling stock availability and maintenance. In some circumstances, operating a short-formed service may be preferable to cancelling a service altogether to maintain service frequency.

DfT Operator Limited, the Government’s rail owning group for its public ownership programme, works closely with train operators and industry partners on future rolling stock requirements and their implications for capacity. The Government is developing a long-term rolling stock and infrastructure strategy for the railway, which we expect to publish later this year. This will include Great British Railways' expected future rolling stock requirements.

The department is working closely with Chiltern Railways and partners to confirm that all the elements to announce a start date for the first EWR services are in place. Chiltern has been preparing for the start of services, including driver recruitment and training.

Southeastern is currently engaged in a live rolling stock procurement. The conclusion of this process will result in the full business case, with a recommended solution, being taken through stringent Department for Transport governance approvals required for investment decisions. This process is expected to take place over the summer.

Below is the available data for the number of short - formed services and the percentage based on the regime data for each operator. Please note that the percentages are not comparable and do not represent the total number of services for each operator.

LNER monitored services measured against All Weekday, Saturday and Sunday services.

SET monitored services measured as Peak services arriving in the morning Peak or departure in the evening peak at London Bridge, London Victoria, London St. Pancras International or London Blackfriars.

TPT monitored services measured against Weekday, Saturday and Sunday services at Manchester Stations, and Leeds.

SWR monitored services measured against All Weekday, Saturday and Sunday services.

c2c monitored services measured against Monday – Friday Peak Services.

Numbers for Period 2610 – Period 2702 is not currently available due to a technical issue; I will write to the Hon. Member as soon as possible with updated information and place a copy of the letter in the Libraries of the House.

GA monitored services measured against Morning Peak Services and Evening Peak Services.

WMT monitored services measured as LNRBU Passenger Services and WMRBU

Passenger Services that are a Weekday, Saturday

and Sunday service.

GTR monitored services measured against services arriving in the Morning Peak or departing in the Evening Peak from Kensington (Olympia), London Blackfriars, London Bridge, London Kings Cross, London St Pancras international, London Victoria and Moorgate, as well as Brighton in the London Road and Hove directions.

N.B. Passenger services are only counted once for the purposes of Short Formations.

The Class 158 and Class 159 diesel trains used on services between London Waterloo and Exeter are expected to be replaced as part of longer-term plans to modernise the rail fleet. South Western Railway, working with the Department for Transport, is developing proposals for their replacement; however, no specific timetable for replacement has yet been confirmed. In the meantime, these fleets are undergoing a phased refurbishment programme to improve reliability and passenger experience, including upgraded interiors, improved passenger information systems and the introduction of at-seat power. This ensures the trains remain fit for service while longer-term decisions are taken.

The Government is also developing a long-term rolling stock and infrastructure strategy, to be published later this year, which will set out Great British Railways’ future rolling stock requirements, including the approach to replacing older diesel trains.

The Class 158 and 159 fleet heavy maintenance overhaul and internal refurbishment programme started in December 2025. The refreshed units will start being rolled out progressively later this year.

The Class 158 and 159 fleet refurbishment programme includes air conditioning and heating fan overhauls, door overhauls, toilet overhauls, refreshed interior paintwork and updated seat finishes throughout.