Department for Transport: Civil Servants
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 6 March 2026 to Question 116586, what estimate her Department has made of the level of fees not being paid to former private sector train operating companies as a result of the public ownership programme managed by DFT Operator Limited since July 2024; and what the cost has been of the increase in headcount at DFT Operator Limited since 1 January 2024, including (i) salaries, (ii) employer pension contributions and (iii) employer National Insurance contributions.
Answered by Keir Mather
Public ownership will save taxpayers up to an estimated £110-150 million every year on fees currently paid to privately-owned train operating companies, once all services currently delivered under contract with the Department have transferred.
The increase in total payroll costs at DfT Operator Limited between 01/01/24 to 28/02/26 was:
Salary - £6,160,470.90
NI - £869,225.19
Pension - £621,414.96
Total - £7,651,111.05
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