To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many new carriages there will be under the Intercity Express Programme; whether bids have been received in accordance with the original bid date; and how many companies and consortia have tendered. (208286)

The current proposition is for approximately 1,000 new vehicles, with options to extend this deployment to over 1,500 vehicles. The final number will depend on the cost and value for money of the proposals from the two consortia bidders when these are submitted on 30 June.