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East Coast Main Line: Competition

Asked by Martin VickersConservativeDepartment for TransportTabled Answered 8 May 2025UIN 48389

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her polices of the Office of Rail and Road's statistics entitled Passenger Rail Usage, published on 20 March 2025, in the context of open access competition on the East Coast Mainline.

Answered by Simon Lightwood

The Department recognises the wider benefits that can be provided by open access operators in the right circumstances, including increased competition which we have seen on the East Coast Main Line.

We welcome the publication of Passenger Rail Usage statistics published by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) on 20 March 2025. We continually monitor statistics published by the ORR and take account of them in our decision making where appropriate.

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