§ Ms ShortTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will provide full details of the timetable for the franchising of passenger rail services; and if he will make a statement. [13998]
§ Mr. WattsBidders for the Network SouthCentral, Gatwick Express, Midland Main Line and InterCity East Coast franchises were shortlisted on 16 January. Final tenders are required by 1 March. Invitations to tender for South Eastern were issued on 19 December and for Chiltern on 30 January. For both franchises, indicative bids are required by 22 March. The franchising director issued on 23 January a document inviting applications to qualify to receive invitations to tender for the Cardiff Railway Company and South Wales and West franchises; responses to this must be received by 26 February.
The timetable for the franchising of passenger rail services is kept continually under review by the franchising director and the process for letting further franchises will be commenced by him as soon as practicable.