To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 17 March 2009, Official Report, column 990W, on railways: franchises, what timetable has been set for completion of the research. (269028)

As described in the previous answer of 17 March 2009, the current research project into rail passenger demand forecasting is due to conclude by the end of 2009. Work is currently on schedule.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which rail franchises and concessions were fully or partly operated by non-UK companies in each of the last five years; and how much public subsidy each such franchise received in each of those years. (269792)

All franchises let by the Department for Transport have been awarded to companies registered in the United Kingdom. Details of the ultimate shareholders should be available in the relevant filed accounts at Companies House.

Subsidy paid to all franchises is published annually by the Office of Rail Regulation in National Rail Trends which is available in the Library of the House and online at:

www.rail-reg.gov.uk