To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether any bidders for the South Central rail franchise run existing rail franchises to which his Department has assigned red light status as part of its routine review of the operational and financial performance of train operating companies. (269000)

The Department for Transport assesses the financial profile of all the bidders as part of the evaluation of all franchise tenders.

The Department does not comment on the financial performance of the companies operating existing franchises as that information is commercially sensitive.