To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many rail services in England and Wales were cancelled owing to adverse weather conditions in January 2010; and how many such services served stations in (a) Leicester and (b) the east midlands. (312223)

The Department for Transport does not hold a detailed breakdown of the reasons for specific cancellations. However, in the most recent four weeks for which provisional figures are available (ending 9 January 2010) 17,172 trains were cancelled in England and Wales. This represents 4.16 per cent. of trains scheduled to run.

In the same period, East Midland Trains (which serves Leicester and is the main train operator in the east midlands) cancelled 106 trains, which represents 0.97 per cent. of trains scheduled to run. Crosscountry Trains (which also serves Leicester and the east midlands) cancelled 297 trains, which represents 4.65 per cent of trains scheduled to run.

Detailed train performance data for the rail network, including cancellations by cause, is collected and held by Network Rail. The hon. Member may wish to contact Network Rail's chief executive at the following address for a response to his question:

Iain Coucher

Chief Executive

Network Rail

Kings Place

90 York Way

London N1 9AG

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport which train operating companies operated reduced timetables on (a) 6, (b) 7 and (c) 8 January 2010; and what reason was given by each train operating company for operating such timetables. (312669)

According to information received by the Department, the following train operating companies operated reduced timetables on the dates shown, in all cases due to the adverse weather conditions:

In addition, on all three dates, First Capital Connect operated reduced timetables because of a shortage of available drivers.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport whether he has made a recent assessment of the resilience of the rail network in (a) Greater London and (b) the south-east to severe weather conditions. (312670)

The Department for Transport is working with the rail industry to review performance and the industry's response during the recent disruption caused by the severe weather conditions. The Department is also collecting information on all services which were operated to understand whether improvements could be made to rail services during future adverse weather.