To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what estimate he has made of (a) the number of passengers on and (b) the income derived from rail journeys between Cheltenham and Swindon in each of the last five years. [324820]

The Department for Transport has not made an estimate of (a) the number of passengers on and (b) the income derived from rail journeys between Cheltenham and Swindon in each of the last five years.

The franchised train operator running services between Cheltenham and Swindon is First Great Western. Therefore, the hon. Member should contact First Great Western's Managing Director at the following address for a response to his question:

Mr. Mark Hopwood

Managing Director

First Great Western

Milford House

1 Milford Street

Swindon

SN11HL

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what discussions his Department has had with (a) First Great Western, (b) the South West Regional Development Agency and (c) the European Commission on the provision of additional funding for the redoubling of the Swindon to Kemble line. [324834]

The Department for Transport is in regular dialogue with First Great Western, Network Rail and local stakeholders, including the South West Regional Development Agency, on the funding and development of the Swindon to Kemble re-doubling project. The European Commission will consider the case for grant funding alongside other projects from across the Community.