To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what proportion of the costs of refranchising of east coast mainline railway services will be met by (a) National Express and (b) his Department. (289616)

The full cost of the refranchising of the east coast mainline railway will be met by the National Express east coast performance bond.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what estimate he has made of the cost of refranchising the east coast mainline railway service. (289617)

Should National Express relinquish the franchise prior to the end of its full term, the costs of re-franchising are currently estimated to be £1.2 million.

These costs will be recoverable from a performance bond that will fall due under the current franchise agreement.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport pursuant to the answer of 20 July 2009, Official Report, column 757W, on National Express East Coast, from which budgets the budget cover is drawn. (289813)

Budget cover for the passenger railway is one of several programmes included in section M—Railways of the Department for Transport's Parliamentary Supply Estimates, which can be found at:

http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/d/13403_me07_dft_1st.pdf